Who's Who of Waverley Place | Clarington Library, Museums & Archives

Looking for more information on Waverley Place? Do you like to put faces to names? Enthralled by "Monday's with Mildred"?

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Here is the official "Who's Who" of Waverley Place! Check out the family tree below and explore the stories of the Jury Family.

The Jury family lived at Waverley Place, in Bowmanville, Ontario from 1901 to 1960. In 1960 the home was established as the Bowmanville Museum, now a part of Clarington Museums and Archives. The home was originally built in 1847 by the Fisher family and given the name "Waverley Place" by David Fisher. The Fishers lived in the home until 1901 when it was sold to the Jury family.

The Jury family lived at Waverley Place, in Bowmanville, Ontario from 1901 to 1960.

In 1960 the home was established as the Bowmanville Museum, now a part of Clarington Museums and Archives.

The home was originally built in 1847 by the Fisher family and given the name "Waverley Place" by David Fisher.

The Fishers lived in the home until 1901 when it was sold to the Jury family.

The Jury family tree.

JOHN H. H. JURY

1857 - 1940

John H. H. Jury was born in the Autumn of 1857 in Prince Albert, Ontario.

His parents were both born in Devonshire, England, and emigrated to Canada.

John married Annie Sinclair in March of 1885 and they raised two children together: Gordon and Mildred Jury.

After Annie's death, John was remarried to Janet McLaurin. Janet was also the sister of Gordon's wife, Elsie McLaurin.

John was active in the Bowmanville community and a successful entrepreneur.

He began his career as a pharmacist and would go on to have a chain of pharmacies operating across Canada; Notably, Jury and Lovell, now known as Lovell Drugs.

John used his love of nature and business sense to create Brookdale-Kingsway Nurseries in 1926 when he merged two existing businesses. Brookdale-Kingsway Nurseries became one of the most popular mail order nurseries in Canada.

JANET JURY (nee MCLAURIN)

c. 1880 - 1960

Janet McLaurin was born c. 1880 in India.

Her parents were born in Canada and her father, a Reverend, was a missionary working in India.

Elsie and Janet McLaurin were sisters, and both eventually married into the Jury family.

Janet was educated in nursing in Toronto and Woodstock, Ontario.

In the early 1900's, Janet moved to Newport, Rhode Island, and worked as a nurse in the local hospital.

She became the Superintendent of Nursing at Newport Hospital.

In the 1920's Gordon Jury, Elsie, and their children traveled to Burma for work. The children eventually returned to Canada to complete their education, living under the care of John Jury. Janet returned to Canada to assist with the care of her sister's children and moved into Waverley Place with John Jury.

John and Janet bonded through this time together and married in 1927.

After the death of John in 1940, Janet acted as president of the Brookdale-Kingsdale Nursery he had founded.

Janet remained in Waverley Place until 1960.

ANNIE RACHEL JURY (nee SINCLAIR)

1861 - 1925

Annie Rachel Sinclair was born in the Summer of 1861 in Brampton, Ontario.

Her parents were both born in Scotland and emigrated to Canada.

Annie married John H. H. Jury in March of 1885 and they raised two children together; Gordon and Mildred Jury.

GORDON SINCLAIR JURY

1885 - 1954

Gordon Sinclair Jury was born in the Winter of 1885 to John and Annie Jury, in Bowmanville, Ontario.

He studied at McMaster University where he met his wife, Elsie McLaurin.

Gordon received a B.A from McMaster University, and an M.A and Ph. D. from Yale University.

Gordon married Elsie McLaurin in December of 1911 and they raised three children together: John, Chester, and Mary Jury.

The family lived in Burma before returning to settle in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Gordon served in the CEF during the First World War and was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire to recognize his service in aiding bomb victims during the evacuation of Burma in 1942.

He worked as a professor at the University of Burma (Myanmar), McMaster University (Canada), and in Rawalpindi (India).

ELSIE READ JURY (nee MCLAURIN)

1884 - 1970

Elsie Read McLaurin was born in the Autumn of 1884 in Woodstock, Ontario.

Her parents were born in Canada and her father, a Reverend, was a missionary working in India.

Elsie and Janet McLaurin were sisters, and both eventually married into the Jury family.

Elsie was educated at McMaster University where she had met her husband, Gordon.

She specialized in English and Philosophy.

Elsie married Gordon Jury in December of 1911 and they raised three children together: John, Chester, and Mary Jury.

The family would move to Burma where Gordon would work at the Missionary University. They eventually returned to settle in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

CHESTER NEW

c. 1880 - 1960

Chester New was born in the Fall of 1882 in Montreal, Quebec.

He was educated at the University of Toronto, the University of Chicago, and McMaster University.

Chester met Gordon Jury while at McMaster University and would fall in love with Gordon's sister, Mildred.

Chester married Mildred Jury in June of 1913 and they raised three children together: Margaret, Gordon, and Marion New.

Chester taught at Brandon College, Manitoba, and would return to Hamilton to teach at McMaster University for 31 years. He was a published historian and has a hall named after him at McMaster University.

MILDRED NEW (nee JURY)

1888 - 1962

Mildred Jury was born in the Winter of 1888 to John and Annie Jury, in Bowmanville, Ontario.

Mildred was involved with local organizations including the Girls Auxiliary and the Historical Society.

Mildred married Chester New in June of 1913 and they raised three children together: Margaret, Gordon, and Marion New.

The family lived in Saskatchewan and Manitoba before settling in Hamilton, Ontario.