The progenitor of the Carruthers families in Pennsylvania was Robert Carruthers b. 1668. He married first Sarah Sproul on June 11, 1689. Several children were born of this marriage, but the only 2 sons were: Robert Carruthers b. 1690 and John Carruthers b. 1698.
His second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. John Farquhar, whom he married on August 12, 1713. Several children were born, but only the names of 2 were recorded: William b. 1714 and James b. 1715. Robert, husband of Elizabeth Farquhar, went to Ireland about 1712 and died in the 1730's.
The 4 sons, all came to Pennsylvania.
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (see maps on the Battle of Kittanning page) was one of the major areas for immigrants to America to settle in the 1700's. Cumberland County was formed from Lancaster County about 1745. Cumberland Valley was in Colonial times known as Kittinning before the name was changed to Cumberland.
Pennsborough township was established in 1735 and divided into East and West Pennsborough townships in 1745. The first trading post in Cumberland Valley was established by Jacques Le Tort, who built a cabin as early as 1720 at Beaver Pond, near where Carlisle now stands.
Settlers began coming into the valley about 1728-1730. Silvers Spring and Meeting-House Spring churches date their beginning to 1734. Silvers Spring church was named after Silvers Spring, which entered the Conodoguinet Creek near the site of the meeting house. The spring, rising from a large fountain about a mile north of the creek, was named after James Silver, who was one of the earliest settlers in the valley about 1728-1730.
Hoges Run, named after John Hoge (pronounced Hogg), rises on what was the Hoge tract of land and empties into the Conodoguinet Creek. Hoge's wife, Gwenthlene Bowen, belonged to the royal family of Wales, and retained her maiden name, as due to her royal birth. They had 2 sons, David and Jonathan. David was Sheriff of Cumberland County from 1768 until 1771. Jonathan was a member of the Pennsylvania Convention of 1776, the Council of Safety, and the Supreme Executive Council that ran Pennsylvania before statehood.
One of the most significant Carruthers in Colonial America was John Carruthers (spelling changed to Carothers during his lifetime), born in Antrim County, Ireland in 1739 . He came to America while still a child, with his father, Robert Carruthers, born 1690. John was listed among the early settlers since his farm was on the East side of Hoge's Run, where it empties into the Conodoguinet Creek, and on the South side of the Conodoguinet Creek. Opposite him on the West and up the Conodoguinet Creek was William Douglas. In the same neighborhood were John and James Armstrong. This John was the County Lieutenant of Cumberland County from August 22, 1777 to 1779. By the time he sent a letter to "His Excellency Joseph Reed, President of Pennsylvania", asking to be de-commissioned, he wore the rank of Colonel. (It was interesting to note that his resignation letter is found on the Pennsylvania archives next to George Washington's letter to Reed, asking what date was being set for the trial as traitor of General Benedict Arnold.) John Carruthers served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1782, 1783, and 1784. On September 27, 1786, he was commissioned Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Common Pleas Court by the Supreme Executive Council.
John tragically died on February 26, 1798. Circumstance of his death can be found at the story Murder in Pennsylvania.Portions of the above history are from notes by George O. Silhemer, in Vol. 24, page 17, of the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography.