www.rutherford.org.uk

www.rutherford.org.uk

Gore Blimey Guv'nor. We're the cockney ones, all pie & mash.... slightly removed from the Reivers and the Moss Troopers, and certainly from the rich aristocratic ones. I even had a great grandfather who sounded like Sam Weller. And to all you lucky folks in foreign lands, most of our ancestors must have suffered from sea sickness or not travelled well, since we're nowhere near as exciting as you. There are Rutherfords knocking around Southwark in Will Shakespeare's day, so we may have been there a long time. So we're interested in; Rutherford from 1750 on (and possibly earlier) Shipwrights, Merchant Taylor & Drapers Company connection in Deptford, Limehouse, Bermondsey, Southwark, Poplar, LONDON, UK Possibly the Medway towns.

A collection of various Rutherford Badges, Crests and Arms on a purported Rutherford tartan background (Home probably), but I'm not getting hung up on the Victorian craze for tartan (think of the Welsh bards and what Iolo did to Welsh culture). Not bad for a bunch of black hearted Reivers. Always makes me think of the "Twa Corbies". As with all things heraldic or tartan, I think it's a case of buyer beware, and people should not appropriate other peoples' arms. "NEC SORTE NEC FATO" apparently means "NEITHER BY CHANCE NOR FATE" or some other questionable sentiment. It is described as the motto of Rutherfurd of Edgerston of Rutherford of that Ilk motto. The clan badge appears with a martlet that has a gold beak and talons. However I am advised that the Rutherfurd/Rutherford martlet [the bird itself] should have a red beak and martlets have no feet at all, and the Rutherfurd/Rutherford martlet [the bird itself] is always tinctured black (thanks to Gary Rutherford Harding). I've yet to find any site on the web that actually relates to my branch, but other suggested links: http://www.hunthill.4t.com/index.html - Excellent historical synopsis, focussed on the Ulster/USA branches http://www.clanrutherfurd.org/ - Splendid Coats of Arms & mottos, and a move to lead the Rutherford Clan - see below http://www.rampantscotland.com/clans/blclanrutherford.htm - A not-so-rampant synopsis http://www.wayfinding.net/Rutherfordsurname.htm - comprehensive, or how the Rutherfords got their name, o best beloved http://www.wayfinding.net/Rutherford.htm - detailed account of the Flint, Michigan Rutherfords http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rutherford/Genealogical%20History%20of%20the%20Rutherford%20Family.htm - nice site of the Mississippi Branch http://scottishkilts.net/clan/clan_rutherford.html - Kilt shopping site - YES they actually exist - think Bill Travers in "Geordie" http://www.rutherford.ca/ - nice site - Ontario Rutherfords - I do like that Area http://www.cramahetownship.ca/community/history/capchas.html - really nice site for Captain Charles Rutherford, V.C., M.C., M.M http://www.celebratewa.com.au/Events/view.asp?DetailsID=205 - John Watson Rutherford, transported to Australia for stealing a pair of Shoes - good site http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/VG/reivers.html - attempt to boost tourism by telling us we're villains http://www.reivers.com/h1.htm - nice pictures, general Reiver stuff http://www.borderreivers.co.uk/ - another celebration of a misunderstood bunch My favourite books on the subject are "The Steel Bonnets" by George MacDonald Fraser and "The Throwback" by Tom Sharpe. By the way, if you've stumbled here on a quest for the origins of Rutherford - I prefer Roxburgh on the Scottish Borders. There are some fascinating anecdotal suggestions above. Somebody across the pond thinks the Rutherfords are of Irish Origin, but I think that's a later distraction as the Scots went to visit Ulster. As a diversion I have found a delightfully unintentionally ironic statement at http://www.clanrutherfurd.org/Position.aspx, on clan leadership, Scottish heraldry and the role of the crown. Reminds me of Blofeld and Blue Mantle Poursuivant in OHMSS. Big Fry wasn't that bad. Controversial comment - as a practicing cynic it seems to beg the question if you prefer the US system of heraldry (??) and don't recognise the judgement of the Lyon King of Arms, why ask in the first place ? The traditional Rutherford approach would be take the Lyon King of Arms prisoner while he's visiting one of your enemies and, if he doesn't prove amenable, replace him. However, my fealty to a new Laird can be bought - see below. But I'm only a Welsh peasant (but Mrs.R. is eligible to be a Daughter of the American Revolution and has got Rutherford Birchard Hayes as a distant cousin). All polite suggestions gratefully considered. Offers of money, sponsorship, corporate hospitality, unsolicited gifts, opportunities for product placement considered.

Created 1st March 2000. Copyright © 2000-2013
Dedicated to my dear wife, without whom I wouldn't be where I am today, to paraphrase CJ.
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Last updated 30th March 2013.
URL: www.rutherford.org.uk