1730 - Earliest settlers - German and Scotch-Irush. Crop failures in Scotland and Ireland, increased land rents, punitive acts to restrict trade. Immigrated first to New England, Philadelphia, Virginia, and then NC. Religion was Presbyterian and Methodist.
1740s - Indian fighting during the French and Indian Wars.
James Gray (1755-1832) married Isabella McClure. They had 2 sons, Samuel and David. David married the daughter of David Dickey.
1764 - The Crown Governor of NC gave land to John McDowell on Cleghorn creek.
1779 - Rutherford County formed, along with Lincoln County, out of Tryon and Burke County. First court session held at the home of Col John Walker. Later held at the home of William Gilbert. The county is named after General Griffith Rutherford. In 1779 there were 482 names on the Rutherford County tax census.
1780 - British Major Patrick Ferguson and his forces invade Gilbertown in Rutherford County. Battled against Col Andrew Hampton, David Dickey, James Gray, Col Charles McDowell. Fought at Cane Creek. Aaron Devinney captured by Tory spies. His wife Sarah pleaded for his release which was granted. One of the Tories in Rutherford Co was Ambrose Mills. James Gray killed a Tory at Cleghorn Plantation. Fighters included Col Campbell, Isaac Shelby, John Sevier, Cleveland, and Williams. Presbyterian minister was Sam Doaks. Lost a battle at King's Mountain.
1781 - Court house constructed on the property of James Holland. Gen Daniel Morgan defeated the British, commanded by Tarleton, at Cowpens.
1785 - Court house moved to the new town of Rutherfordton.
1790 - The Wall clan from Scotland shows up in Rutherford County, NC (Amos and John Wall). They show up in the 1800 Rutherford Co census.
1800 - Federal census shows 1,633 heads of households in Rutherford Co.
1829 - Prior to 1829, all the gold mined in the U.S. and minted in Philadelphia came from NC, and much from Rutherford County.
A branch gold mint was opened up by the Bechtier family in Rutherford Co.
1837 - Cleghorn mansion built by Thomas McEntire (born in Ayrshire,
Scotland in 1782).