Johanna Geraldine Euphemia (Scott) Brewster (1880 - 1960)

Ancestors Descendants

JOSIE SCOTT 1880 - 1960

Josie Scott was born 24th May 1880 in Takaka, Golden Bay her parents were Margaret Diamond and Walter Pittilock Scott.

Walter Scott was a builder. The family moved to Eltham in 1900, the Taranaki economy was expanding rapidly with the opening up of the Waimate Plains for farming, and Walter was looking for opportunities to get his boys started in the building trade.

Josie Scott & Edgar Brewster married in the Primitive Methodist Church, Eltham, on the 8th April 1903.

As reported in the Eltham Argos - ORANGE BLOSSOMS - A pretty wedding was celebrated at the Eltham Primitive Methodist Church yesterday afternoon, when Miss Johanna G.E Scott eldest daughter of Mr W.P Scott was united in the bonds of holy matrimony to Mr Edgar C. Brewster. The contracting parties are well and favourably known in Eltham and district and in view also that old Sol shed his indulgent beams it was not surprising that the church was crowded by a very interested congregation. The church had been decorated by members of the Society of Christian Endeavour with evergreens and flowers bearing further evidence of the popularity of this bride and bridegroom.

The Rev. Mr Wooloxall tied the nupital knot and the bride who looked charming in a dress of white silk trimmed with silk lace and chiffon and wearing the orthodox veil and orange blossoms was given away by her father Mr. Scott. She carried a very handsome shower bouquet and was attended by the following bridesmaids: Miss Elsie Scott sister of the bride, Maud Bridger cousin of the bride and two Misses Carroll of Hawera. The two former wore dresses of cream delaine and white picture hats relieved with red. The two misses Carrol wore dresses of biscuit coloured delaine with picture hats relieved with red. All carried shower bouquets. Mr W. Scott brother of the bride acted as groomsman. Two hymns appropriate to so auspicious an occasion were rendered by the choir and Miss Boddie played the Wedding March as the bridal party left the church amidst showers of rice.

An adjournment was afterward made to the Town Hall which had also been decorated for the occasion. A large number of friends - two settings of tables having to be made to accommodate all the guests - sat down to a really first class spread, His worship the Mayor presiding. After ample justice had been done to the good things provided, The Rev Wooloxall proposed the health of the newly married couple in felicitous terms, referring from personal knowledge to their many excellent qualities and wishing them on behalf of their many friends, health and happiness .. a toast which was heartily drunk and formally responded to by the bridegroom. J. Boddie proposed the health of the bridesmaids in a few happy remarks, Mr W Scott responding. The toast of the bride's parents was proposed by the Chairman who spoke of his acquaintance with Mr Scott sen. having worked with him 17 years ago in the Collingwood district. Mr Scott briefly replied on behalf of himself and Mrs Scott. Mr Petherick spoke on behalf of the bridegroom's friends with the Rev. Mr Wooloxall suitably replying, the function terminated.

Mr & Mrs Brewster left by the evening train for Hawera en route to Wanganui where the honeymoon will be spent. The wedding presents were numerous, handsome and useful. The wedding cake was a splendid three-decker, reflecting great credit on the establishment of Mr Cluett. A large number of friends then adjourned to the Town Hall where a very enjoyable evening was spent.

(Their honeymoon was spent at the hotel in Pipiriki on the Wanganui River, which they reached by paddle steamer from Wanganui. Pipiriki was a very fashionable honeymoon destination.)

Edgar and Josie made their first home in Castle Street Eltham, “the last house in the street”. Edgar planted pines at Castle Street and Josie planted water lilies in the creek – which later “cost the council a fortune to eradicate”. Edgar blasted the stumps left from bush clearing for firewood – and young Colin got into trouble for using some of his father’s blasting powder to fire a toy cannon he made. Colin and Roy carved their initials in a boulder in the creek – the boulder was still to be seen in the 1990s but seems now to have disappeared.

Sources

• BIRTH - N.Z. Govt. B.M.D. index - 1880/12972 Scott Johanna Geraldine Euphemia - parents - Margaret & Walter
• MARRIAGE - N.Z. Govt. B.M.D. index - 1903/2308 Johanna Geraldine Euphemia Scott & Edgar Colin Brewster
• DEATH - N.Z. Govt. B.M.D. index - 1960/36572 Brewster Johanna Geraldine Euphemia aged 79 years