The Family of Daniel KEITHJane PORTER (1823-1906) - only child of Mary KEITH and William McNish PORTERJane PORTER was the daughter of Mary KEITH and the grandaughter of Daniel KEITH and Jane McPHERSON (see Daniel's story here). Mary was born in Canada around 1796 but after her father Daniel died in Hammersmith in 1911 Jane took her family back to Canada where Mary subsequently married William McNish PORTER. They had one child - Jane - born in Bristol just before William died.
Jane was born prior to 19 June 1823, as she was baptised at St George, Bristol on this date. We do not know when or where she was born. She gave her age as 40 in 1871 (born 1831); 35 in 1881 (born 1846); 50 in 1891 (born 1841) and 70 in 1901 (born 3 April 1830). Only her age at death appears to be correct, being 84 (born 1822): she appears to have rounded down her age for the censuses. However the census consistently records her as born in England, so we have to presume this is correct, rather than in Canada before the family returned to Bristol. She would have accompanied her mother Mary when she returned to Canada around 1825, after Mary's mother Jane KEITH had died in Bristol in 1824.
Back in Canada, Jane's mother Mary married John BLACKWOOD in Montreal on 19 March 1831. John and Mary had three children who became Jane's half-siblings. The older daughter, named Mary Sophia BLACKWOOD, was about 8 years younger than Jane, but they became inseparable. Both were music teachers, living together for the rest of their lives. Jane Porter the authoressThe life of Jane and her half-sister Mary can be followed through newspaper reports and printed media. The first record is a small book that Jane published privately in 1856 entitled "Six Weeks' Tour in Western Canada". She was not named as the authoress but went by the pen name of "A Lady" but at the end of the story it is signed "Yours Truly Jane Porter". The book was "enscribed to the ladies of Canada by the Authoress". However there is little doubt that "The Lady" was Miss Jane PORTER as she describes meeting Mr and Mrs Robert BLACKWOOD amd Mrs MacNISH in Fingal, south of London and near the border with Michigan. The book details the travels undertaken by herself and her mother (Mary KEITH) in Western Canada. On page 31 she reveals the reason for publishing the book - in order to attract a rich investor to "establish a Musical College for young ladies" in Montreal. A copy of the book, in PDF format can be downloaded here.
Jane was a prolific composer and several of her musical compositions were published, although copies are hard to find. In 1857 for instance she published "The Peritana, or Indian Huntress Quadrille". In 1887 she published the "Victoria Lancers".
Jane also published poetry and short stories with a strong religious theme. It is not clear where they were originally published but Jane reprinted them privately in 1874 under the title "The Christian's Wedding Ring". Some writers (e.g. the CWRC) consider that the book's style differs so markedly from "A Six Weeks' Tour" that the author may have been a different Jane Porter (unidentified). But consider the evidence:
There is little doubt that "A Lady" was indeed Jane Porter and the collected works give us an insight to her life.
Life as a Music TeacherThe 1871 census for Montreal has Jane and Mary living with their mother Mary BLACKWOOD. It shows Jane was born in England and both Mary and daughter were born in Quebec.
Jane and Mary proceeded to offer music lessons in Montreal. The pupils also gave regular concerts. The address for the music lessons changes several times but the address given in 1863 for applications is the same as Jane's address in 1856, suggesting she and Mary remained living at 6 St George's Place throughout. But by 1871 they had moved to 106 Mansfield St, Montreal and then to number 160. All of these addresses are close together adjacent to the Gare Centrale railway station in central Montreal.
Plans to Establish a Music School in MontrealThe travel book did not attract the rich investor that Jane had hoped but she retained the dream of a music school in Montreal. Jane and Mary were undeterred. They expanded their classes from music to a full education. In 1875 she advertised the start of a Junior Class as the seed of her Musical College and this was underway for "young ladies and little boys" at 162 Mansfield Rd, Montreal by 1877.
Although she appears to have been successful with the junior classes her concept of a Musical College based on her own teaching methods did not flourish. Although she did receive support in the press her endeavours were In fact opposed by the male establishment of the time - or that is how Jane saw it.
Abandoning Montreal for TorontoThe newspaper articles and advertisements for Miss Porter's Boarding and Day School in Montreal cease in September 1877. We can only guess at her reasons for abandoing the city where she and Mary BLACKWOOD had spent most of their lives. Perhaps it was the failure of her dreamed Music College or the musical establishment's opposition to it; but by 1878 they were in Toronto and advertising for pupils - such as in the Steigers Educational Directory for 1878.
Jane and Mary had opened the new school in their house at 93 Charles St, which today is part of the University of Toronto. For the next 20 years Jane lived close to the University, suggesting she may have had contact with the musical school there. The census records for 1881-1901 show them living in Toronto. About 1888 they moved to a new address at 9 Harbord St, which today is also part of the university.
Death of Mary BLACKWOOD and Jane PORTERAt some point in time Jane and Mary retired from teaching. They moved to a house in the suburbs at 433 Euclid Ave and then to 110 Borden St, both only a few blocks west of the university. Mary Sophia BLACKWOOD died at 110 Borden St on 13 September 1903, of "heart trouble probably". The record states Mary was aged 70 and the newspaper has "in her 71st year", but this information would have been supplied by Jane, who was notoriously bad at revealing correct ages. Mary was in fact only aged 63 years.
Jane PORTER died at 110 Borden St, Toronto on 29 November 1906. The cause of death was senility.
Return to the Daniel KEITH Family Page Last updated: 23 March 2024 |
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