Henry Rutherford

Ancestor of President Hayes.

From page 29 of History of the Ancient Maritime Interests of New Haven By Thomas Rutherford Trowbradge

Mr. Henry Rutherford, the Virginia and Barbados merchant, whose quaint little warehouse is still to be seen in Fleet street, was the owner and occupant of the only colonial structure which, contemporary with the first settlers, has come down to us.

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From page 49 of The Trowbridge Genealogy: History of the Trowbridge Family in America, Volume 1 By Francis Bacon Trowbridge

On April 4, 1654, not long after his coming of age, the "oath of fidelity" was administered to Thomas Trowbridge. About three years later he married the daughter of a leading merchant in the colony [Henry Rutherford], and settled down to a life of business activity and social and political prominence in New Haven.
By 1662 he [Trowbridge] had become a prominent merchant, and on June 16 of that year "Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Hodshon and Mr. Thomas Trowbridge did freely engage to leave and not export, each of them, twenty bushels, at least, of wheat and indian corn that shall here remain for the supply of such as are in needs, provided due payment be made."
"The oldest building in the city is on State street next to Yale & Bryan's. [On the east side Jnst north of Water street.] The Founders' Day placard stating thnt it was the oldest was displaced there yesterday. The place was formerly Henry Rutherford's warehouse. Mr. Rutherford lived directly opposite on the other side of the street. The building was erected in 1648 and was made of old English teak. It has been altered as it has passed down these many years, but the old frame, old windows and old doors remain." [New Haven Journal and Courier, June, 1888.]

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• Families of Ancient New Haven by Donald Lines Jacobus, pg. 1582, 1854