Locating the Scottish Rutherfords.

In an earlier post we saw evidence that William Rutherford, Montreal immigrant, had been born and raised in Jedburgh, which is in Roxburghshire, along the Scottish borders.  He was the son of James Rutherford, a forester in Linthaugh, Jedburgh--his census records, death record, tombstone, and entry in the Royal Scottish Forestry Society all place him in Linthaugh.  Originally I thought that Linthaugh might be the name of the forest he worked in, but now I'm not so sure.  It might refer to a district within the town.

I turned up this picture, dated 1905, online:

Linthaugh Avenue, Jedburgh.  

The family seems to have moved around a little, but within a close range.  The previous generation, James Rutherford Sr. and Jean Thomson, were married in Wilton, Roxburghshire, and Jean came from Lilliesleaf, also in Roxburghshire.

Here's a description of a house that may possibly have been used by the James Rutherford Jr. family:

821. Single storey and attic symmetrical 3-bay Gothick L-plan cottage. Pale cream sandstone ashlar with rusticated quoins; base course; pointed-arch openings, windows with raised margins and cills.
W (FRONT) ELEVATION: projecting rusticated gabled porch at centre with panelled door and pointed fanlight;single window with moulded hoodmould to flanking bays; moulded cornice (below quasi-parapet).
N ELEVATION: 2-bay gable-end to right with hoodmoulded windows at ground (blind to right) and single window in gablehead; broad single bay set back to left with rectangular window at ground and segmental-headed window above breaking eaves with gabled dormerhead; further single storey lean-to shed to outer left.
E ELEVATION: projecting gable to right with single storey lean-to shed at ground. To left, single storey lean-to porch and closet; bipartite window at left, and door in re-entrant angle with 1st floor window under eaves of main wall.
S ELEVATION: gable-end to left with hoodmoulded window to right at ground; window at centre above; single storey lean-to set back to right. Recessed range to right with rectangular winodw; lean-to with door to outer right.
Timber casement winodws with leaded lights; small-pane swash and case and casement to rear. Crowstepped gables, beack skewputts, corniced ashlar apex stacks; grey slates.
INTERIOR: not seen 1993.

Notes:

Originally the home of the forester on the Jedforest estate of the Earls of Home; trees were cultivated in the paddock to the N. The rear porch is a later creation. There is a pitched roofed timber shed supported on stone sidewalls to the E, just before the river.

Source: Historic Scotland

Here's a photo of James Rutherford, dated 1855.  Because of the age he looks I'm thinking this is William Rutherford's older brother James, who would have been around 25 years old in 1855, rather than William's father James, who would have been around 49 years old.  Is this the house that is described above?

Now, on the Montreal McCord Museum's fantastic collection of photographs, there are a number of photos which were "copied for Mrs. H. Rutherford" in 1911.  They are all located in  in Edgerston, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, which is six miles south of Jedburgh.  Edgerston is actually associated with another branch of the Rutherford family, one that descended from James of Rutherford, oldest son of Richard of Rutherford and older brother to Nicol of Hundole, from whom we are descended.  The photos seem to depict a large country home, which undoubtedly had grounds attached.  Could this be the property where James Rutherford worked as a forester?   The website Clan Rutherford has this to say about Edgerston:

Edgerston House

In 1695 Thomas Rutherfurd (c.1650-1720) built the center part of the present house. It is unclear whether this incorporated or completely replaced the existing tower (c. 1600); however, the initials of Thomas Rutherfurd and his wife Susanna Riddell are said to be carved into one of the dormer windows.

John Rutherfurd (1748-1834) of Edgerston was a great benefactor to Edgerston. In 1793 he built on the two wings with their Venetian windows and the semi-circular tower at the south side of the house. In a letter written by his uncle, Baron Robert Rutherfurd to Walter Rutherfurd, " Fairnington, Oct 28, 1788, Dear Walter, I want to send you a copy of the plan of the improvements that our nephew is making at Edgerston. He is putting on two wings at a cost of 3,000 and when it is completed it will be one of the finest seats in the Shire." In a letter between the same uncles, "Fairnington, Nov 26, 1792. Edgerston House by being repaired with additions is now one of the handsomest and most commodious of any in this county."

The final addition to Edgerston was the Tower built by William Oliver-Rutherfurd(1781-1879) in 1840. This tower is a fully equipped house which is now rented.

On the hill above Edgerston House can be seen the remains of a peel tower which was used by the Rutherfurds for defense against the Kerrs and other families that the Rutherfurds were feuding with, and as defense against the English.

Drive From The House, Edgerston, Scotland.

Edgerston Lodge.  The District is hunted by the Jed Forest and Duke of Buccleuch's Hounds.
Edgerston from the North, Roxburghshire, Scotland.

First Bridge on Avenue, Edgerston, Scotland.

Edgerston from the North.
(I think I see the name Wm, Rutherford handwritten on the bottom, in mirror  writing.)

Edgerston From the South.