Please note, the images below are all copyright images. If you would like to copy them, please see the McCord's copyright page. Reproductions can also be purchased through the McCord Museum.
First of all, let's remind ourselves of the Rutherfords in our immediate family line. William Rutherford Sr., born circa 1831, came to Montreal in 1852, married Elizabeth Jackson there in 1856, and had 12 children.
Thomas Jackson Rutherford, born 1858
Helen Paton Rutherford, born 1860 (married William MacEwan Dunlop of New York, 1893)
Margaret Brown (Maggie) Rutherford, born 1862 (married Thomas McIntosh of Toronto, 1892)
William Rutherford Jr., born 1864
Andrew Rutherford, born 1865
Arthur James and Edward (Land or Lamb?) Rutherford, twins, born 1868 (Arthur d. 1869 age 11 months)
Forest Rutherford, born 1871
Elizabeth Jackson (Bessie) Rutherford, born 1872, died 1895, age 23, unmarried
Anne Paton (Annie) Rutherford, born 1874
Stewart Rutherford, born circa 1876
Gordon Rutherford, born circa 1876 (twins)
William Rutherford Jr., the son we descend from, married Ida Bulmer in 1893 and had five children.
William Jackson Rutherford,
John Bulmer Rutherford, born 1897
Jean Rutherford
Andrew Scott Rutherford (probably donor of photographs)
Marjorie Rutherford
Image 1:
This photograph is entitled William Rutherford, about 1850. It is a daguerreotype measuring 8 x 7 cm. and was a gift of Mr. Andy Rutherford, whom my mother-in-law believes would be her Uncle Andy (my brother-in-law Andrew is named after him). Our William Rutherford Senior, however, didn't arrive in Montreal until 1852. This image could have been taken in Scotland, or it could be dated slightly later than the McCord is estimating.
Image 2:
The McCord calls this Rutherford Group, About 1900. It is also a gift of Mr. Andy Rutherford. Handily, someone has annotated the faces in this collection.
The man on the far left, T.J. Rutherford, would be William Sr.'s oldest son Thomas Jackson Rutherford, born 1858, which would make him around 42 in 1900. To the right of him, on top is Forest Rutherford, the youngest son, born in 1871 (so around 30 years old at this time). The gentleman underneath him, S. F. Rutherford, is Stewart Rutherford, around 24 years old, and his twin Gordon is on the same level, to the right of William Sr. They look like identical twins to me, from what I can see here.
In the centre of the collection is the family patriarch, William Sr., who would be about 69 years old in 1900. I think I can see some resemblance with the 1850 image...or am I just imagining things?
To the right of William Sr. are Andrew Rutherford (on top), the family's second son, born 1865. Then, at the very left hand side, we have William Rutherford Jr., born 1864 (age 36), through which our family line descends.
Do you notice that there are no women in this picture? This grouping includes all the Rutherford men except for Arthur and Edward. We know Arthur died young, and I suspect Edward did too, as he does not show up on any census records. These are all very formal, posed shots. In fact, Forest, Gordon and S. F. look like they may be wearing commencement gowns. All in all, this is a handsome group of confident-looking men.
Image 3 is also a gift of Mr. Andy Rutherford. It is entitled James Rutherford, about 1855. If the dating is right, this was taken about 3 years after William immigrated to Canada. From the setting, it's hard to place this photograph in terms of country of origin. James is the name of William Rutherford's oldest brother, born in 1829, who as far as I know stayed in Scotland. If this is the same James, he would be around 26 years old in the photo (that looks about right to me). This might have been brought with William when he left home, or sent to him later from Scotland.
What I notice about this photograph is that was not taken in a photographer's studio, as most of these other pictures were. James seems to have been posing against a residential building, possibly his own home. The lone plant looks a little forlorn! I considered the possibility that the photograph may have been taken on a visit to William in Canada, but I think in that case they would have posed together, don't you?
Image 4:
This portrait, also part of the Andy Rutherford donation, is entitled Mrs. William Rutherford, about 1900. This would be Elizabeth (Jackson) Rutherford, and she would have been around 64 years old in 1900. I like how clearly you can see her face and expression. Although this is a formal portrait, I think a lot of her personality comes through.
Image 5:
Now this image is interesting. The final portrait in the Andy Rutherford donation, it is entitled Rutherford Family, About 1900. It is the largest portrait in the collection, measuring 25 by 32 centimetres. The fun is going to be in identifying everyone! Clearly the matriarch in the centre with the baby on her lap is Elizabeth (Jackson) Rutherford, wife of William Sr. Could this be a portrait of her with her grandchildren? Some of them seem to be young adults (especially the young lady directly behind Mrs. Rutherford). Although this is certainly a formal studio portrait, I like how Mrs. Rutherford is not only holding the youngest child on her lap but also holding the hand of the young boy next to her. I wonder if this was a gesture of affection, or a ploy to keep him from fidgeting? You'll notice that his brother (or cousin) beside him seems to have an arm around him, and his sister (or cousin) behind him has a hand on his shoulder. My suspicion is that this young man is being gently corralled.
Now we get to images which are more difficult to identify as being part of our line of Rutherfords. These photographs were all purchased by the McCord museum, so their provenance offers no clue as to family ties. They were taken by William Notman, a prominent Montreal portrait photographer who took pictures of a great many Montrealers during the course of his career. I'm thinking that these photographs may be proofs or duplicate copies, and that the originals may be in the hands of descendents.
Image 6:
This portrait is entitled Mr. Rutherford, Montreal, QC., 1882. It was taken February 11, 1882 by Notman and Sandham, and measures 10 x 15 centimetres. I don't think it could be William Sr., who would have been around 51 years old at this time. William Jr. would have been 18 years old, which doesn't seem right either. Could this have been one of William Sr.'s older sons? I'm looking at the Image 2 composite photograph and I can't decide.
Image 7:
This one is called W.H. Rutherford, Montreal, QC, 1886. (Didn't Oscar Wilde write a story called "The Portrait of Mr. W.H."?)
Image 8:
Image 8 is another pose of the young Mr. W.H.Rutherford in 1886.
Image 9:
Image 9 is G.E. Rutherford, Montreal, QC, 1868.
Image 10:
Again, G.E. Rutherford, Montreal, QC, 1868. This looks like the same sitting.
Image 11:
Image 11 is called J.K. Rutherford, Montreal, QC, 1880.
Image 12:
This one is called Robert Rutherford, Montreal, QC, 1866.
Image 13:
George Rutherford,Montreal, QC, 1868. I have to say that George Rutherford looks a little gone to seed. Maybe it's the greasy hair and the eyebrows.
Image 14:
Image 14 is entitled Mrs. Rutherford, Montreal, QC, 1863.
Image 15:
And image 15 is Mrs. Rutherford, Montreal, QC, 1865. I'm pretty sure this is the same person. But which Mrs. Rutherford is she? Elizabeth (Jackson) Rutherford would have been 29 years old in 1865, which fits the age of the portrait sitter, I think. But is she the same woman as in images 4 and 5 (which are much later dates?), or is she an unconnected Mrs. Rutherford?
Image 16:
This is James Rutherford, Montreal, QC, 1867. I don't have a clue who he could be.
Image 17:
Miss Rutherford, Montreal, QC, 1868. Image 18 is of Miss Rutherford at the same sitting.
Image 18:
Image 19:
Master I. and Missie M. Rutherford, Montreal, QC, 1865. These two are real sweethearts--I hope they're some of "our" Rutherfords!
Image 20:
Image 20 might be impossible to identify, unless someone recognizes the horses or sleigh! It's entitled Mrs. Rutherford Horses and Sleigh, University Street, Montreal, QC, 1896. The title does not mention the man standing up at the back of the sleigh with the whip and the big fur coat, so perhaps he's a servant.
Image 21:
Image 21 is Mrs. Rutherford's Baby on a Horse, Montreal, QC, 1896. This shot is interesting. It's not taken in the studio but probably on family property. Who are the two men? The one holding the horse looks very butler-ish. The one holding the baby is dressed more casually. Are they both servants? Or is the man holding the baby the baby's father? It's funny that of all the elements (building, two men, horse, trees) the one hardest to see is the child who is the subject of the photo. Even though this is not a studio portrait, it and image 20 are still attributed to Notman.
There are several other images at the McCord archives relating to the Rutherford family, mostly landscapes from Scotland, which I will post separately. For now, I'd be happy to figure out more about these portraits. Do any Rutherford cousins/aunts/uncles have any similar portraits in their possession which would help in identifying these?
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