Life of 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The following is an article copied from an unpublished, as far as I know, document titled 'The Family Tree by Joseph A. C. Robertson, dated 1937'.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.

A Resident of Toronto for 73 Years

Publisher of the Leader

Charter Member of the Western Assurance Company

James Beaty Sr.

Narrow Escape from Being Shot as a Rebel

Sketch of a Busy Life

The oldest resident of Toronto, Mr. James Beaty, passed away peacefully Saturday afternoon. He had reached the advanced age of 94. In his day he filled a large part in the history of this country. His individually and his prominent position in business, politics and journalism made him widely known in the early days. Since his retirement from active business in 1877, at the age of 80, he has led a quiet life.

He retained his control of all his faculties until about four years ago, when his memory began to fail. To the last, however, he was able to recognize the members of the household. Within the past few weeks his strength seemed gradually to ebb away, and his end on Saturday was so peaceful that those about him hardly knew when he died. The funeral will take place from his residence, 17 Fuller Street, Parkdale, this afternoon at 3 o'clock to the Necropolis.

Career of the Deceased

Mr. Beaty arrived in Toronto, then known as Little York, on Sat¬urday the 17th March, 1818. The total white population of the place at that time being about 500. At the time of his arrival there was four feet of snow on the ground, although no snow had fallen up to the 10th of March of that year. When he arrived here a banquet was in progress at Jordan's Hotel on King Street at which fourteen persons were present. He spent the night with Father Bergen and attended the first Mass ever held in Toronto next morning. Shortly after his arrival he became associated with Mr. Armstrong, his Brother-in-law, in the shoe and leather business. He had the first brick house built in Toronto and was in many ways one of the leading spirits in Toronto's vigorous infancy. He entered upon his active political career by uniting with Dr. Baldwin and Hume Blake to oppose the Clergy Reserves and the family compact land reservations. He threw himself vigorously into the contests and was frequently enabled by his active identification with the Orange Order to make himself heard at public meetings where his colleagues were not permitted to speak. The political persecution of the Liberals became so virulent, vicious and un¬reasoning about this time that members of that party could not secure discounts at the Bank of Upper Canada, and accordingly the Bank of the People was established, chiefly by Mr. Beaty on the unlimited liability plan. Hr. Hincks, (subsequently Sir Francis) then about twenty-four years of age, was appointed cashier. Mr. Beaty was among the most active of those who agitated for the City Charter in l834, but owing to large commercial interests both here and in new York he decided not to enter the first City Council. However, and as chairman of the Board of Works was closely ident¬ified with many of the early projects for the improvements of the city. He founded the Leader as a weekly paper in 1852, with the office of publication on King street. In the following year the Leader became a daily paper and Mr. Beaty continued to publish it for twenty-five years.

He also purchased the Patriot, and Orange Organ, and the Colonist, the Patriot was afterwards amalgamated with the Leader, and the Colonist discontinued. Among those who worked on the Leader were Charles Linsey, Daniel Morrison, Charles Bedford, Thomas Gregg Sr., and others.

In politics Hr. Beaty was originally an Orange Tory, but he allied with the William Lyon Mackenzie, Dr. Rolph and others in the struggle for responsible government. He, however, did not approve of resorting to arms and as the crisis approached he was not ad¬mitted to the councils of the more violent. At the same time, the Tories suspected him of being a rebel and in the heat of the rebellion, one day while going home from the Bank of the People of which he was a Director. A hot-headed militia captain seized him and ordered him to be shot, The company, however, knew him well and refused to obey the orders of the captain. After the settlement he went back to the Tory Party, of which he afterwards remained a consistent supporter.

He ran for M.P. in 1849 but was defeated. He was elected member of the first Parliament of Canada for East Toronto, and was returned a second time in 1872. He retired from politics in 1873 at the time of the Pacific Scandal.

In religion he was brought up a churchman, but after coming to this country concluded that the New Testament Christian was all that was needed. He was the founder of the Disciples of Christ and did much to advance the interests and influence of this religious body. He 'was first joined by a young man named John Bennett, a hatter, who had been impressed by views announced by Hr. Beaty at a meeting in a Presbyterian church on Duchess Street. They were soon joined by a man named Shanklin and Mr. Beaty was baptized by being immersed in the Bay. These three persons were afterwards joined by James Armstrong, a Young Street saddler, at whose house for some time they broke bread.

He was married shortly after he arrived in Canada, and his wife died in 1829, leaving two children, a son and a daughter. The son William is dead, but the daughter is still alive. Up until three years ago he enjoyed physical and mental health, but since then his memory began to fail. In religion he was originally a churchman, but after coming to this country he started and main¬tained a congregation in this city, for nearly sixty years, and was one of the principal speakers. He was one of the first Orangemen of this city and with his brother John Beaty, walked in a procession of twelve in the year 1820, but was only a nominal member for years before his death.

Possible reprint from an article in The Mail - precursor of the Globe and Mail - TO BE CONFIRMED