The Ancestors Of Tarzan: Mother's Side

The ape-man's mother had a very small part in the Tarzan series. In chapter one of Tarzan Of The Apes, author Edgar Rice Burroughs informs us that her maiden name is Alice Rutherford and she is from England. In early 1871 (1872 Chronology) she marries John Clayton, Earl Of Greystoke, Viscount. The young Rutherford then becomes Alice Clayton, Countess Of Greystoke. In late 1871, John Clayton I, received a government commission in southwest Africa. ERB does not openly reveal that location in Tarzan Of The Apes, but he does so with scattered information throughout chapter one.

• John Clayton is from England.
• Clayton is taking a job commissioned by the British government.
• Clayton's job is to spy on King Leopold of Belgium and his suspected slave trade.
• The exact job location is not revealed, but it is on the southwest coast of Africa.
• Since the Claytons were marooned in Portuguese Angola at 10 degrees South Latitude, their destination had to be south of that point.
• The only British possessions located south of Portuguese Angola is Walvas Bay and South Africa.
• South Africa is too far from the Belgian Congo for Clayton to adequately spy on Leopold's activities.
• That leaves Walvis Bay, a whaling port just south of the Belgian Congo and Portuguese Angola.

Walvis Bay

Shortly after Clayton receives his commission Alice discovers she is pregnant. Refusing to stay behind in England the Countess of Greystoke buys baby provisions and makes the trip anyway. On a bright May morning in 1872, the Clayton's sailed from Dover, England for Freetown capital of Sierra Leone. From there the couple boarded a barkentine named Fuwalda for the journey south along the West African coast. At 10 degrees south longitude (Portuguese Angola) the ship's crew led by Black Michael mutinied and abandoned the Clayton's on shore with their provisions.

Joe Kubert

After much hardship, Clayton built a one-room log cabin completely covered in mud. On September 1, 1872, Alice gave birth to John Clayton II. Stress, African weather, daily hardship, and Tarzan's birth left Alice frail. She never fully recovered and one year later on September 1, 1873, Tarzan's first birthday, she passed. While distracted and morning her death Clayton thoughtlessly left the cabin door ajar. Kerchak unexpectedly burst through and Clayton's life ended as well. Kala swooped up the crying John Clayton II from his crib and discarded her dead bula in his place. Frantically the new mother scampered into the upper terrace with the human baby.

Joe Kubert

ERB actually reveals very little about John Clayton II's Rutherford ancestors in Tarzan Of The Apes. Supplying us with Alice's maiden name, and that she was from England, is enough information to start an investigation for ourselves. The non-fiction Rutherford name is an old one in English linage. The surname Rutherford comes from regional commencement, beginning in the lands of Rutherford in the parish of Maxton, Roxburghshire. The name is of a time-honored and once-powerful Border family. The meaning and origin of their ancestral home are developed from an old English ford, which is derived from a ford of cattle.

Rutherford Family Crest

The Scottish clan fought England since their formation and became fierce in the defense of their land. They were also known to pillage their ancient enemy and richer Northumbrians. In the 16th century, the Rutherford/Rutherfurd name continued to be frightened of in the Scottish Borders. In the 17th century, the Rutherford Lairds of Edgerston broke the historical family tradition of fighting England. They joined Charles l of England during the Civil War until 1646 when the king surrendered. By the 1800s the Lord Rutherford family title became non-existent. 

Rutherford

From 1839 to 1851 Andrew Rutherford was MP for Leith. Andrew also retained the office of Lord Advocate and had been advanced to the Bench with the judicial title of Lord Rutherford. Ernest Rutherford unveiled the alpha particle and also perfected the nuclear theory of atomic structure. Ernest provided the preliminary work for nuclear physics in the twentieth century. In 1914, Ernest was knighted and in 1925 he was appointed to the Order of Merit. The concluding addition to Edgerston was the tower built by William Oliver-Rutherfurd in 1840.

Rutherford Family Crest

Today, like historical tradition, Clan Rutherford/Rutherfurd is considered a Lowland Scottish clan of the Scottish Borders. The Rutherford/Rutherfurd clan is officially recognized by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, but it does not currently have a clan chief that is recognized by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Therefore, it is considered to be an armigerous clan. The clan's motto is Nec sorte, nec fato (Neither by chance nor fate)

Rutherford Scotland

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James Michael Moody is a lifelong fan and collector of Edger Rice Burroughs. Moody has contributed over two hundred articles to various ERB-related fanzines over forty-five years. He also manages an unauthorized Tarzan blog titled, Greystoke Chronologist: James Michael Moody. There the researcher chronologies the Tarzan books starting in May 1872 (known as the pushback theory) instead of the more accepted date, May 1888.

James Michael Moody is also the author of the action-packed Sci-Fi fantasy adventure Unium series. Pioneers On Unium, published December 31, 2019, Exiled On Unium, published August 25, 2022, and Swordsman On Unium published on July 15, 2024.