William Scott Elliot and Muriel Lailey

William Scott Elliot was the son of Robert Watt Elliot and Catherine Scott.  His wedding to Muriel Lailey is described in detail in the Toronto newspaper, the Globe.  William and Muriel both attended the Jarvis Street Baptist Church.  Thomas Sutherland Stayner and his wife Harriet Rose Elliot were among the guests (Harriet Rose was a daughter of William Elliot and Mary Oliphant, and would have been  the groom's aunt).   The account was published on October 4, 1899. 

Here is Muriel's obituary in the same newspaper, many years later, on June 19, 1951.

The Jarvis Street Baptist Church and the Elliot/Scott Families

Jarvis Street Baptist Church, Toronto, circa 1917.   By Valentine & Sons Publishing Co., Ltd. - Saskatchewan Postcard collection, http://digital.scaa.sk.ca/gallery/postcards/permalink/37418, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63214236

I've known for a long time that both John Galloway Scott's family and William Elliot's family were associated with Toronto's own Jarvis Street Baptist Church.  The Jarvis Street Baptist Church Directory and Historical Sketch, published in Toronto in August of 1897 and available on the database Canadiana, gives us a snapshot of what church life was like for the Scott and Elliot families.  Our ancestor William Elliot,  the father of Mary (Elliot) Scott, died in 1893, so he was no longer alive when this publication came out, but some of his children and grandchildren are still involved in this church, as is John Galloway Scott et al. 

I really like the page below for how it lays out the rhythm of the life of the Jarvis Street Baptist congregation.  There's public worship on Sundays, and also Sunday School, Bible Class, and a Prayer Meeting.  There also seems to be a Prayer Meeting on Wednesday, although it's not named as such, and various groups meeting throughout the week.  It seems like a bustling place. 

John Galloway (or J.G.) Scott is listed as a Deacon.  Notice the name McMaster on the list of Deacons;  William McMaster (of McMaster University fame) was one of the men who helped finance the building of the Jarvis Street Baptist Church in 1875, along with William Elliot.  William McMaster died in 1887 but it looks like his family is still in attendance.

John Galloway Scott is also a Trustee, and holds the position of Secretary to this group.  Being a Trustee means that John Galloway is also on the Finance Committee, and it looks like he is also the Sub-Treasurer for the Poor Fund.

John Galloway Scott is a Plate Collector on the ground floor, south side.  J.C. Scott, listed under main floor, south side, is not related to our branch of the Scott family. 

Mrs. Robert Watt Elliot (Catherine Scott) was President of the Dorcas Society.  From what I understand, Dorcas Societies were charitable organizations which gave clothing to the poor. 

The following pages are from the directory.  They give us the name and address of all church members.  The double-t Elliott family are not related to us.  Notice that Cynthia Jane Elliot (C. Janie) is living at 341 Sherbourne Street, which means she is living in the Robert Watt Elliot household headed by her sister and brother-in-law. 

There are a few Scott families in attendance at Jarvis.  I believe that only the John Galloway Scott family are related to us.  John G. Scott did have a son named Arthur, but his middle initial was H. for Herbert, and not E, and I am not aware of his ever living in New York.  In 1892 Arthur Herbert Scott married Minnie Davis and they settled in Montreal. 

There is a relationship between the Elliot family and the Yates family (William Elliot's sister Maria Elliot married David Yates of Dundas, Ontario, in 1828.  I'm not certain if Mrs. Eliza Yates is a relative of our Elliots or not. 

Muriel Lailey is the future wife of William Scott Elliot.  They marry in October 1899.  She appears to be the only member of her family to attend Jarvis Street Baptist.  Perhaps they met through the church. 

Mrs. T. Sutherland Stayner was born Harriet Rose Elliot.  She is the daughter of William Elliot and Mary Oliphant,  the sister of Robert Watt Elliot, and the sister-in-law of John Galloway Scott.  Her husband Thomas Sutherland Stayner was an Anglican, and so it seems she was the sole representative of her family in this congregation.  

Although William Elliot was dead by the time this document was published, his work as a church deacon is briefly described.  He and his family were originally members of the Disciples of Christ church. 

 

Notice that James Lesslie was mentioned in early records of this church.  The Lesslie family were known to both the Scotts and the Elliots.  Thomas Chalmers Scott was persuaded to come to Toronto by a Lesslie, and William Elliot got his start in pharmacy at the Lesslie family pharmacy in Dundas.