Jerry and Linda Butler

From the research of David Donahue

The following information was supplied by Charles C. Rushing and appears in the "Rushing Past" newsletter, II(1), March 1980. "Let's start with the Isle of Wight County, Virginia. 'Early Eighteenth Century Palatine Emigration' by Knittle (on Page 252) states that on the 2nd sailing from Holland to England then to Virginia, there was listed 23 May 1709 Mathys Riesin (German for Rushing) and Vrow (wife) and three children. Then on page 262 Mattys Russin -- they were of Protestant faith and could not worship as Protestants in Germany. In 'Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight Co. Virginia' by John Bennet Boddie, it states that Mattys Russian sold 150 acres to Wm Bridger in 1714. The Russians (Rushings) were living in an area overrun by Louis XIV of France and had escaped to Holland. There they were helped by Queen Anne of England who promised to take them to Virginia to settle there. In 'Lost Virginia Records' by Louis Des Cognets on Page 88, Mathew Rushin applied for 475 acres with a partner Edward Goodson. Russin sold his (or a part) to Wm. Bridger as stated above. This deed was dated 10 April 1707 (a little variation in the dates from the 'Palatine Migration' book). Mathys Rushin had to live on it for a period to get title; on 16 June 1714 he got title (page 190 of 'Lost Virginia Records'). Here is synopsis: 1707 Mathew Rushin applied for 475 acres; 1714 he received Patent."

But this is only one theory about Rushing family origins. I am presenting it because it is a theory which at least presents documentary evidence. However, there are several other legends and theories on the origin of the family, the most widespread being that the family is Welsh. There is evidence for a James Rushing in New Kent County, Virginia, in 1667, and for a Mathew Rushing in Charles City County, Virginia, before 1670.

The Rushings who settled along the Beech River in West Tennessee came from Anson County, North Carolina. The Rushings in Anson County, North Carolina, seem to be very closely related, but working out the relationships between them is extremely difficult, particularly because there are so many William Rushings. I propose the following hypothesis. The Beech River Rushings seem to be descended from two near contemporary William Rushings who lived on Brown's Creek (a contemporary John Rushing lived on Thompson's Creek in the Chesterfield District of South Carolina.) To attempt to clarify the relationships I plotted probable locations of Rushing land grants and deeds. When this is done, the Rushings fall into two subgroups. One group lived on Browns Creek near the present community of White Store, near Black Jack Creek.

This group is associated with the elder and younger Joseph Whites in land grant and deed records. This group includes two Williams, Richard, Phillip, Soloman, and a John.

The other group is found 5-10 miles farther south on Thompson's Creek, on the headwaters of Browns Creek, and on Little Browns Creek. This group includes two or more Williams, two or more Johns, a Mathew, Robert, Noah, and Abraham. They are associated in land grant and deed records with Benjamin Jackson and John Jackson. The breakdown is not exactly this simple, however, and some adjustments have to be made. Except for living near the southern Rushing group, Abraham is most closely tied to Richard, Solomon, and others in the northern group.

He married Elizabeth, died, circa 1745.

According to Virgil W. Huntley of Mystic Connecticut, who has studied deed records for the Rushing family in North Carolina, "Mathew Rushing, father of William, had a wife, Elizabeth, as she acknowledges the sale of land to William Bridges or Bridgers on 15 July, 1718.

"Widow Elizabeth Rushing is said to have married either Edwin or Edward Goodson as her 2nd husband. Elizabeth is said to have died about 1743 to 1747 leaving property to Goodson. A most dramatic will said to be filed by Goodson. Where is it?" [Letter to David Donahue, July 19, 1992]

Virgil W. Huntly also estimates that Mathew's son William had to have been born circa 1710 or earlier because he purchased his father's property in 1730. Neither of the William Rushings on Brown's Creek seem to be old enough to be the William, son of Mathew. Either or both might be grandsons.