His father Walter, a veteran of the British Army, was a hostage of the Patriots during the Revolutionary War while John was a teenager.

[2] After graduating from the College of New Jersey, Rutherfurd practiced law in New York City for several years.

[4] After serving in the United States Senate, Rutherfurd then retired from politics, but continued to undertake several important projects during the rest of his life.

Together, they had eight children, including:[5] In 1808, Rutherfurd moved with his family to a farm on the banks of the Passaic River near what is now Rutherford, New Jersey.

The borough of Rutherford, New Jersey, was named at least in part after John Rutherfurd, who had owned much of the land during his life.