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Portrait of Alice Priscilla Corson Elliott

Portrait of Alice Priscilla Corson Elliott

MediumOil
SupportCanvas
Dimensions76.2 x 63.5 cm
Credit LineCollection of Museum London, 2011
Object number2011.016.008
Label TextAlice Elliott’s father, John Elliott, was born in 1820 in the border region of Cumberland, England and Northumberland, Scotland, but he considered himself a Scot. His family immigrated in 1827 to York. Following service in the cavalry, Elliott moved to London in 1850 and set up a plough-works called John Elliott and Sons, located on Ridout Street. Following a fire, he rebuilt and took over Phoenix Foundry, where they manufactured agricultural and vehicular products. Elliott married Alice Priscilla Corson, third daughter of John Corson of Westminster. The Corsons were among the earliest settlers to the region, arriving in the 1770s as United Empire Loyalists. He built his homes at 73 and 75 Bathurst Street, calling the first “Canobie” (sometimes spelled Canoby) after one of the towns in his home country, and the second house became known as “New Canobie”. In September of 1860, Elliott home became the official residence (for two days) of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. John and Priscilla had eight children, but the crest here was painted by their last child, Alice. This crest was painted by Alice Elliott, daughter of John Elliott, during her time at school. Alice and her sister, Laura, both attended Hellmuth Ladies’ College, which opened in 1869. Founded by Rev. Isaac Hellmuth and Rev. Cronyn, its mission was to educate young women in the arts and sciences. The college closed in 1899 and the building was purchased by the Sisters of Saint Joseph and became Mount St. Joseph Orphanage. Alice Priscilla Elliott was born in 1872 in London, ON. The exact dates of her attendance at Hellmuth are unclear, but family history suggests it was from 1888 through 1890, however, considering the dates on the undersides of the porcelain, this appears either in error, or she continued her engagement with the college after graduating until she married her sweetheart, Frank Charlton. It is unclear how exactly Alice met Frank, whose family came from St. Jean, Quebec, however his photograph appears in Alice’s school-age photo album and it may be that he was attending a boy’s school here. They married in 1895 and had one daughter, Kathleen (sometimes Kay or Kayleen) before Frank died suddenly in 1898. Alice remarried in about 1900 to a man named George Edmison and sometime in the 1900s, they moved to western Canada. They returned regularly for family visits until Priscilla Elliott, Alice’s mother, passed away.
NamePainting