Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Rutledge, Jasper. 'Jasper Rutledge (William H. Herndon Interview)' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: interview]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon606b.html

Petersburg Mch. 9th '87

Jasper Rutledge — Treasurer of Menard Co — I am 50 years of age — am related to Ann Rutledge: She died before I was born — have heard much. My brother J. M. Rutledge ^[1] knows all about the story of Ann Rutledge — McNamar & Lincoln. Ann Rutledge and McNamar were engaged to be married. In making out some deeds McNamar signed the deed as McNamar — when McNamar called himself McNeil. This opened Anns Eyes — McNeil — ie McNamar went to New York about 1834 — did not write much to Ann if any. Ann found out that McNeils' name — his real name, was McNamar and not McNeil — quit correspondend, if they ever corresponded. Ann dropt McNamar — saying that she would have nothing to do with a man with two names — Lincoln in 1834 — 5 seeing the

way things were tending went to see Ann — he boarded at Rutledges and Ann & Lincoln were engaged to be married. My brother knows this as well as he knows anything — he has told me this substantially. Ann sent for Lincoln in her last sickness. I am the double cousin to Ann ^[2] — see my brother James McGrady Rutledge and he will tell you all about it: he lives north west from this place 3 ½ miles. Ann dropt McNamar entirely — McNamar did not get back from New York till after Ann's death. ^[3]

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 3365

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