Rutledge, John
? - 1826

Irish missionary to New Providence in the Bahamas from 1804 to 1814, when he was forced to resign after marrying a white woman who had inherited slaves. Their proposal to free them gradually, as legal restrictions permitted, was unacceptable to the WMMS. Despite this, he maintained his contacts with the Missionary Committee and continued to serve unofficially, being more experienced than other missionaries in the area. He strongly supported the interests of the slaves and in 1817, despite his mild disposition and conservative outlook, vigorously opposed legislation prohibiting worship during the hours of darkness when slaves were free to attend.

Sources
  • G.G. Findlay and W.W. Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (1921-1924), vol. 2 pp.228-33
  • N.W. Taggart, The Irish in World Methodism (1986) pp.161-2

See also

Entry written by: NWT
Category: Person
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