Sutherlin Research Summary

Submitted by: Mark Sutherlin

My G-G-G-Grandfather came to Orleans in Orange County in about 1808 or 1810 or so. His name was Philip Sutherlin and his wife Mary (Vest) Sutherlin. They had several children, some from prior marriages and some of their own. Some migrated to other areas that we know of, like Texas and Missouri. Philip is not the Phillip Sutherlin that moved to Putnam Co. Indiana. They may or may not have been related. Philip came from, or at least lived in NC and SC prior to moving to Indiana.

Philip was buried in the Sutherlin family cemetery, just outside of Orleans, near Lost River. The cemetery is now abandoned. Several others are buried there, according to DAR records, which also give a better idea as to the cemetery's location.

Philip had the first Grist Mill in Orleans. He also owned and operated a Tavern there in later years. He may have opened the Tavern so that the people using his Grist mill could have something to do, while they waited for their corn to be ground. Philip, it can be assumed, had to deal with the real life hardships which other early settlers found in the new Indiana territory in the early 1800s. Nothing much is known about Philip, other than it is assumed that he is related to the Putnam Co. Sutherlins, of whom are many in number, as some of them, when they first came to Indiana, stopped and lived for some years in Orleans, or other parts of Orange Co. prior to moving to Putnam Co.

Fendal Sutherlin and his mother Mary Owens Sutherlin, and Fendal's children, for one example, moved to Orange Co. from Kentucky, before 1820, after Mary's husband William died in Kentucky. We believe that there is a family connection here, and that Philip may have been William Sutherlin's first cousin, but we have not been able to find a direct connection from records of the time.

Philip's son Ishum Sutherlin, Philip's wife Mary and at least one of Philip's other sons moved to Missouri around 1830 to 1835. Ishum's wife was Rebecca Johnson or Johnston who was also from Orange Co. Indiana. Together they had several children, one of which was Charles Wesley Sutherlin, my Great Grandfather. Ishum died in his forties. His son Charles married Mary E. Montgomery, daughter of Nathan Montgomery, from Fayette Co., KY, son of Robinson Montgomery, also of KY. Charles and one of his son's, my Grandfather, Robert Montgomery Sutherlin eventually moved to California.