James Beaty Sr.

The following is an article copied from an unpublished, as far as I know, document titled 'The Family Tree by Joseph A. C. Robertson, dated 1937'. I have included these articles to give some more information about my ancestors and to show that written histories, recollections, family stories are very important to our understanding of our family history. Some of the following information can be confirmed, some may be confirmed, some may just be wrong. If any of the information that follows is of interest to you or sound familiar, please contact me and maybe we can sort out the fact from fiction.

The little we know of the beginning of the church in Toronto is from an account of James Beaty sr. given in a Toronto paper at the time of his death which accords with all we can remember hearing of his career.

The following is a copy of some items.

"In religion Mr. James Beaty Sr. was brought up a church man, but after coming to this country concluded that the simple New Testament Christian was all that was needed. He was the founder of the Disciple of Christ and did much to advance the interest and influence of this religious body.

He was first joined by a young man by the name of John Bennett, a hatter, who had been impressed by views announced by Mr. Beaty at a meeting in a Presbyterian Church on Duchess Street.

They were soon joined by a man named Shanklin, and Mr. Beaty was Baptised by being immersed in the Bay. These three persons were afterwards joined by James Armstrong, a Yonge Street saddler, at whose house for some time they broke bread. James Lesslie and Joseph Lesslie, ex-postmaster, also, identified themselves with the movement until a gathering of fourteen or sixteen regularly assembled at Armstrong's house. Finally a lot was purchased at the corner of Shuter and Victoria streets, two of Mr. Beaty's houses were moved onto the premises and a meeting place established. Afterwards a building was erected, but eventually, owing to various disputes and difficulties, both building and lot were lost.

The disciples subsequently divided into two bodies, one worshipping in the west and one on Louise Street near Yonge Street.

Mr. Beaty addressed many meetings throughout the Province in advocacy of his religious views, and largely owing to his efforts the Disciples have become no insignificant body and are rapidly growing in numbers.

James Beaty was born in Ireland 1798. He arrived in Toronto in March 1818 and was married shortly after arriving in Canada. His wife was Miss Armstrong, she died in 1829. He even held these religious views before her death as he opposed the christening of his two children, and when his wife took them to the clergyman he asked for James, and sent for him to come, after they had discussed the matter, the clergyman told James that he thought that he had been in bad company? If I have, it was Christ and his Disciples, was his answer.

It was told that James Beaty and another man baptised each other in the Bay and that they were the first Disciples in Toronto. James Armstrong in whose house they met to break bread, was not his brother-in-law.

Many will remember the old church at the south east corner of Shuter and Victoria streets with the inscription "If ye Continue in my Word, then are Ye My Disciples Indeed" carved in stone over the doorway.

It was erected in the early 40's and where the disciples met until 1876, when I think they moved to Louise street.

This was written by His Grand Niece, Miss Mabel McCartney in January 1937