Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Rutherford, Thomas |
Born |
1812 |
Birthplace |
Scotland |
Places of residence |
Scotland (emigrated in 1834) Galt, Upper Canada Village of Sydenham (now called Owen Sound) Leith area, Sydenham Township., Grey County (Lot 35, Concession A) |
Father |
William Rutherford |
Nationality |
Scottish |
Notes |
Thomas Rutherford was an early settler of Galt, and next Sydenham (later called Owen Sound). He assisted the Land Agent, John Telfer, when the village of Sydenham was being founded, and spent a winter there before other settlers arrived (taking care of the government stores Telfer and he had brought to the area). He made a diary of his experiences at that time, including mention of how he spent Christmas with some members of the Newash people (Ojibwa / Anishnaabe). One of the Ojibwa men shared his tobacco with Mr. Rutherford. After the winter was over, Rutherford walked back to Galt. He married Catherine MacGregor, in 18_. The Rutherfords had a log tavern / hotel at the site where Legate's Furniture store would later be. They had their tavern there from 1842-1846. In 1846, the Rutherfords moved to Sydenham Township, and began clearing a farm at Lot 35, Concession A. It became known as "Bayside Farm". Thomas had worked as a Gate Keeper at Ancrum House in Scotland before he emigrated. He was a second (or third?) cousin of Sir Walter Scott. Thomas Rutherford is buried at the Leith United Church (formerly Presbyterian) church yard. When this "Auld Kirk" building was being planned, Mr. Rutherford procured the red bricks from A. M. Stephens of Owen Sound on behalf of the building committee, and covered them with lumber to protect them until the church could be built. Thomas returned to Scotland at one point and visited with his sisters. When the Thomson family moved from Claremont area to Leith and became their neighbours, Tom Thomson (b. 1877) was only about 2 weeks old. When the family arrived, baby Tom was handed down into Mrs. Rutherford's arms. Tom, when he was older, later helped the Rutherfords with their haying, as they were neighbours. See AF8.S1.F6.I12 at Grey Roots for the Jaffray Rutherford book, as it has images of Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford and their descendents. The Annan W.I. Tweedsmuir book also has a photograph of Thomas Rutherford, and one of his wife Catherine. The 1879 map of Sydenham Township, that was published in the Illustrated Historical Atlas of Grey County in 1880, has "T. Rutherford" printed at the lot in Leith. |
Occupation |
Settler / Butcher Assistant to Land Agent, John Telfer Tavern Keeper briefly at Owen Sound Farmer Leith Presbyterian Church (Auld Kirk), later called the historic Leith Church |
Publications |
Armitage, Andrew....THE SUN-TIMES (Owen Sound), Dec. 2008, article re Thomas Rutherford's Christmas in the 1840s) Cathcart, Ruth, HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION (history of the Rutherford residence) Croft, Melba Morris, FOURTH ENTRANCE TO HURONIA Ross, Allan, REMINSCENCES OF NORTH SYDENHAM, 1924 Rutherford, Jaffray, SIX GENERATIONS: THE RUTHERFORDS AT BAYSIDE FARM, 2009. |
Relationships |
2nd Cousin?: Sir Walter Scott Two Sisters: stayed in Scotland, one was a Mrs. Hall |
Role |
Business person |
Spouse |
Catherine MacGregor (b. 1817-d. 1904), m. 1844 |
Children |
Malcolm Rutherford (b. 1854-d. 1938) (also see the Rutherford book for the other children) |
