Rhoda House
ID # 8554, (1850-1870)
| Father | Orange Lawrence House (1819-1880) |
| Mother | Mary File (1828-1908) |
| Birth | Rhoda House was born on 26 July 1850 at Ancaster Twp., Wentworth Co.. |
| Marriage | She married James Turner Rutherford, son of Thomas Rutherford and Agnes Turner, on 24 October 1869 at Brant County. Mrge reg. Brant County James Turner Rutherford, 29, bachelor, blacksmith, Wesleyan Methodist. Born Scotland, residing Ononadaga (Township). Parents Thomas and Agnes Rutherford. Rhoda House, age not given, spinster, Wesleyan Methodist. Born and residing Ancaster. Parents Orange L. and Mary House. Witnesses John Henderson of Onondaga and Albert House of Ancaster. On 24 October, 1869, location not given. Clergyman J. C. Wilmot, M.A. The old county marriage registers were, mainly, discontinued as of July 1st, 1869, and new forms provided. Initially, the marriage reports were sent to the county level, though by 1871 they were being sent to the town or township level. There are three marriages listed on the page of the form that lists James and Rhoda, two of them by J. C. Wilmot, but the place of marriage for James and Rhoda is not provided. Since Rhoda's brother was a witness at the marriage it does appear that this was not an elopement. John C. Wilmot was a Wesleyan Methodist minister. Per the 1871 census, he was age 35 and married and located in Brantford East Township. |
| Death | She died on 23 November 1870 at Onondaga Twp., Brant Co., at age 20. |
| Burial | She was buried at Bethesda Church Cemetery, Ancaster Twp., Wentworth Co.. |
| Note | Rhoda's marriage registration tells that she was born in Ancaster. The transcription of Bethesda Church Cemetery in Ancaster tells that she was born on July 26, 1850, and that she died on August 26, 1871. She is buried with her parents, Orange L. House and Mary File, and she is described as Rhoda House, the wife of Jas. Rutherford. A difficulty here is her date of death as shown, August 26, 1871. The 1871 census was begun on April 2nd of the year. In that, James Rutherford is shown with his parents, Thomas and Agnes. This agrees with his parentage as described in his marriage registration. His age is rather off in the registration, for there he is described as age 29 and the 1871 census describes him as age 28. The particular problem is that as of the census date, which we must believe to be early April of 1871, he is described as a widower. Rhoda's death registration has been found and was nearly glossed over because of the date, but, all considered, we must believe its accuracy. Since Rhoda's parents did not die until decades after her passing, we must believe that an error was made when the stone was inscribed. Death reg. 003906-70 Onondaga Twp., Brant Co. Rhoda House Rutherford died November 23, 1870. Age 19 years, 3 months. Married. Born Ancaster. Wesleyan Methodist. Cause of death softening of the brain. Physician Dr. Horton. Informant James Rutherford (spouse), blacksmith, Onondaga, Ont. James provided this information on Nov. 30, 1870. 'Softening of the brain' sounds vague, but, at the time, it could apparently describe stroke or haemorrhage. While the form does not directly say so, the clerk who signed the form, W. D. Soules, was indeed, per the 1871 census, the township clerk in Onondaga, hence must believe Rhoda's place of death to be Onondaga. |
| Last Edited | 28 Apr 2021 |