Once again, you will have to follow my train of thought here. Each year, in July, we spend part of the weekend in Bayfield, Ontario as part of a family reunion, which has been going strong for 46 years. As I travel near and far from our city, I am fascinated to find connections back to Mississauga. This trip was no different. Although have been to Bayfield many times over the years, this year I wandered down the historic main street with a copy of the Bayfield Heritage Conservation District study on my phone for quick perusal, and gave myself a bit of a self-guided heritage walk.

One of the names associated with a heritage building jumped out at me – namely the Rutledge name associated with the Rutledge-Westlake House located at 6 Main Street North in Bayfield. The Rutledge surname is a well-known family name in local history here in Mississauga. I have written about the Rutledge family in Streetsville in a past article in this series.

With that name from Bayfield in mind, I decided it would be fun to dig a bit and see if there was any connection between the Rutledge family of Bayfield and the Rutledge family of Streetsville. It turns out there is.

But let’s step back a bit first.

The Rutledge family emigrated from Ireland to New York circa 1815. While some of the early family history is elusive and uncertain, it appears that the family was led by brothers Joseph and Henry Rutledge Sr., along with Henry’s children William (1790-1876), Christopher (1795-1880), John Alexander (1796-1857), Henry Jr. (1797-1875), Ann (1800-1899), Isabelle (1802-1885), Catherine (1806-1882) and Margaret (1810-1850). They were also joined by either a cousin or nephew, James Rutledge (1803-1884). In 1820, John Andrew Rutledge, possibly a cousin, followed. Tracing families can sometimes be confusing, I know!

In 1819 much of the Rutledge family came to Canada with the Beatty Caravan. Brothers William, Christopher, John and Henry Jr. settled in historic Mississauga, with William, Christopher and Henry Jr. establishing themselves near Streetsville. Henry’s extensive family became very much entwined in Streetsville’s history. Brother John, who settled near Derry West, is attributed to founding the first Orange Lodge in historic Mississauga. Other members of the family also came to live nearby, with some in nearby Trafalgar Township, and the Rutledge name can be found in several historic cemeteries throughout our city.

But some other members of the extended Rutledge family, did not come to Streetsville – or if they did, they did not remain long – and eventually they found themselves in the Goderich area when the Canada Company opened up the Huron Tract in 1826 and 1827. These included James and John Andrew Rutledge, who were joined in time by two of William’s sons. By all accounts the Rutledge families of Goderich prospered (as did the Rutledge families of Streetsville). John Andrew’s son, Andrew Edward Rutledge (1819-1888), was born in Ireland, and came to Canada as an infant. Growing up in Goderich, he likely had little interaction with his Streetsville cousins. Andrew Edward established himself as a wool and grain merchant and was living in Goderich in 1848. In 1849 he married Sarah Anne Rutledge (1827-1901) of Streetsville. Sarah was the daughter of John Rutledge of the Orange Lodge connection referenced previously. Sarah and Andrew were most likely distant cousins. Interestingly there was another connection via marriage between the Goderich and Streetsville Rutledge families: sisters Ethel May Cunningham and Mary Cunningham married Robert Rutledge of Streetsville and George Rutledge of Goderich, respectively.

Gravestone for Andrew and Sarah Rutledge, Bayfield Cemetery

Now back to Bayfield.

Andrew Edward Rutledge married Sarah Ann Rutledge in Toronto on February 28, 1849. The couple were married by Methodist Minister Reverend Anson Green. Andrew and Sarah raised five children in Bayfield: John Alexander (1850-1920), Mary Elizabeth (1853-?), Andrew James (1856-1908), Christiana Margaret (1859-1933) and Edward Ryerson (1860-1931). In 1857 Sarah’s mother, Christiana (nee Ward) came to live with the family in Bayfield and died there in 1871.

The family had a frame house built in 1854, which was replaced by a substantial brick house in 1867. This building survives today. As was common, with a growing family and business ventures, families would often build more substantial houses. In 1867, Andrew Rutledge’s community and business standing was confirmed with his construction of a two storey, white brick house. Andrew was the leading grain and wool merchant in Bayfield, who also owned one of the first general stores. He also served as Bayfield’s first town Clerk in 1876 and supported the building of the village’s first brick schoolhouse.

While there is most certainly more to the story, the Rutledge’s former house in Bayfield is both as a defining heritage building in the Bayfield Heritage Conservation District and is a direct physical link between the Goderich and Streetsville (Mississauga) Rutledge families. Andrew passed away in 1888 and Sarah Anne, who was born in Streetsville, died in 1901. They are buried together in the Bayfield Cemetery.

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