Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Rutherford, Catherine |
Othernames |
née Catherine McGregor |
Born |
1817 |
Birthplace |
Scotland |
Places of residence |
Scotland (emigrated in 18__, and then to Galt or Rockford area of Grey County? ) Owen Sound, Canada West Leith, Sydenham Township, Grey County (Lot 35, Concession A, Bayside Farm) |
Nationality |
Scottish |
Notes |
Thomas Rutherford (originally from Roxburghshire, Scotland) was Owen Sound, Upper Canada's first overwintering non-native settler. He had accompanied the Land Agent, John Telfer, when they came up to the area to blaze and chop a clearing for what would become the village of Sydenham. Thomas was in charge of taking care of the government's stores that he and Telfer had brought in to the new settlement. Thomas Rutherford went back the next year, walking back to Galt. In 1844, he married Catherine McGregor, who had a connection to Rockford. Mr. Rutherford had a log tavern for a few years (1842-1846) at the Village of Sydenham, and then moved his family out to Sydenham Twp., to the Leith area, where they began a farm at Lot 35, Concession A, starting in 1846. The Allan Ross book, REMINISCENCES OF NORTH SYDENHAM, 1924, includes information about the Rutherfords. Another book, written by Jaffray Rutherford, SIX GENERATIONS: THE RUTHERFORDS AT BAYSIDE FARM, 2009, provides images and more information about the family. There is an image of Mrs. Catherine Rutherford when she was elderly. It also shown in the Annan W.I. Tweedsmuir history book, with some details about her life. In 1877, when the John Thomson family moved from Claremont to Sydenham Township, the then infant Tom Thomson was handed down out of the family's wagon into the arms of Mrs. Rutherford. The Rutherfords and Thomsons were next door neighbours. Tom Thomson later went on to become a famous Canadian artist. He used to help the Rutherfords with haying and turnip hoeing. She passed away on June 29, 1904, at the age of 87. She was buried at the Leith Presbyterian Church cemetery (now the historic Leith United Church cemetery). She had been predeceased in 1879 by her husband. |
Occupation |
Farmer's Wife / Homemaker / Farmer's Widow Presbyterian |
Publications |
Rutherford, Jaffray, SIX GENERATIONS: THE RUTHERFORDS AT BAYSIDE FARM, 2009. Ontario Death Record 011443, June 29, 1904, Sydenham Township |
Role |
Homemaker |
Spouse |
Thomas Rutherford, m. 1844 |
Children |
Malcolm Rutherford + others |
