Until the Day Break and the Shadows Flee Away - Mary Jane and John Theophilus Scott M.B.E

All Saint's Cemetery,
Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK.

 

"In Loving Memory

Of

Mary Jane Scott

Who Fell Asleep

June 12th 1926

In Her 63rd Year

'Unti the day break, and the shadows flee away.'

Also of John Theophilus Scott M. B. E

'Called Home' March 25th 1930

'Absent from the body, present in the Lord.'

'Jesus hath vanquished death and all it's powers.'

Mary Jane Scott was born Mary Jane Griffin in Trowbridge, Wiltshire to parents James Griffin a Carman (a horse drawn delivery vehicle or tram), and Elizabeth Culverhouse in 1863. She was baptised on 2nd April 1871, along with her sisters Ann Elizabeth and Martha Ada at St Barnabas Chruch, Kensington, London.

St Barnabas Church, Kensington, London.

Mary and her family can be found on the 1871 Census living at 19 Warwick Road, Kensington. Sadly, Mary's father James was to pass away in 1878.  By 1881 the widowed Elizabeth Griffin has moved with her daughters, Mary Jane, Elizabeth Ann, Martha Ada, and little Jessie Georgina to what appears to be a house of multiple occupancy, 78 Springvale Terrace, Kensington.

On 7th February 1884 at St John's Church in Chelsea, Mary married John Theophilus Scott, a company Time Keeper.

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John Theophilus Scott was born in 1862 in New Brompton, Kent to parents George Gordon Scott a soldier, and Louisa Maria Bristow.  John's father George passes away sometime between 1862 and 1864 as Lousia marries again in 1864 to an Edward Luke.

The 1871 Census finds the young John boarding at the house of George Luke (possibly a relative of Edward Luke) an Inspector of the Railway and Mary his wife at 18 Craven Cottages, Hammersmith, London. Visiting at the time of the Census is John's elder brother George Gordon Scott, a Railway Clerk.

1881 and John has moved to the home of Stephen Ralph's a Crane Fitter on Railway, house at 137 Droop Street, Chelsea, London. John is listed as an Assistant Inspector on the Railway.

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1881 finds John and Mary living at 48 Rednall Terrace, Hammersmith, London, where John is listed as a Sub Inspector of Machinery at Railway. Living with John and Mary are their children, George Gordon born 1885, Douglas John born 1883, and Henry James born 1889. Visiting the family is Mary's younger sister Ann Elizabeth Griffin who is listed as Mother's Help.

By 1901 the family had moved to 143 Grenfell Road, Maidenhead Berkshire. John is now a Railway Inspector of the permanent way and works, looking after the railway track and keeping it in good repair. John and Mary had welcomed another son into the family in 1891, Alfred Keith. Living with the family are Mary's younger sister Jessie Georgina as a Mother's Help, and Rose Alice Emily Webb a Dress Marker's Assistant, Mary's younger half-sister.

The family are still living at 143 Grenfell Road, now named Keith Villa, where John is listed as a Railway Inspector, Civil Engineering Department. Douglas John and Alfred Keith are Railway Clerks, and Henry James is an Assistant Civil Service Clerk.

Grenfell Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK.

On 16th January 1916 Sergeant Henry James Scott died from his wounds in France. Less than 9 months later Sergeant Major Alfred Keith Scott D.C.M, was killed in action during the Somme on 13th October 1916. Alfred was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry in the field in the face of the enemy. 

Sergeant Major Alfred Keith Scott

On the 30th of April 1918 Sergeant Douglas John Scott was killed in action while serving in Isarel and Palestine. Each of the brother's epitaphs is, 'Until the Day Break and the Shadows Flee Away.'  The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on May 15th 1918:

"The Supreme Sacrifice

Mr. and Mrs. Scott of King's Grove, Maidenhead, yesterday, received notice from the War Office that their son Sergt. Douglas John Scoot, of the 2nd Battalion London Scottish, was killed in Action on April 30th, while serving with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Palestine." - Maidenhead Advertiser, Wednesday 15th May 1918. 

Sergeant Douglas John Scott

John Theophilus Scott was awarded the Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order, M.B.E for his services to ensuring safety as a Permanent Way Inspector for the Great Western Railway, on July 3rd 1925. Less than a year later, Mary Jane was to pass away on June 12th 1926. John soon followed Mary on 25th March 1930.

On the 26th March 1930 the following appeared in the Births, Marriages, and deaths column of the Maidenhead Advertiser:

"Scott - On March 25th at 5 St Luke's-road, Maidenhead, John Theophilus Scott, M.B.E., (for many years Permanant Way Inspector for G.W.R.) "Called Home." Funeral at 3p.m., at Maidenhead Cemetery." - Maidenhead Advertiser, Wednesday 26th March 1930.

George Gorden Scott was the only child of John and Maty's not to pass away in World War one. By 1912 he had moved to Gloucester, Gloucestershire, and married Ethel Ricketts. George and Ethel had two sons, Henry Douglas Keith born in 1916, and John Theophilus born in 1919. George continued to work for the railway until his own death in 1953.