Faith, Fraud, and Forgotten Graves: The Story of Joseph Scriven & David Kidd-Byrne's $36M Mystery

Описание: Join me on a captivating journey through Ontario's hidden history as we uncover the life of Joseph Medlicott Scriven, the Irish immigrant who wrote the beloved hymn 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus' after enduring unimaginable tragedies. From his selfless acts of kindness—like sawing wood for widows and giving his coat to beggars—to his mysterious drowning in 1886, Scriven's story is one of faith and humility.
But the tale takes a dark turn with his foster son, David Kidd-Byrne, rescued by Scriven from a snowbank in 1875. Kidd-Byrne became an evangelist, funding elaborate memorials to Scriven, but his life spiraled into scandal with a $36 million inheritance claim tied to a dramatic saloon rescue of Lucy Byrne—a story riddled with unverified deaths and forgery charges in 1930.
In this video, we visit Scriven's grave at Pengelley Family Cemetery and all four memorials Kidd-Byrne erected: the relocated stone in Port Hope, the granite shaft at Pengelley, the marble column in Bewdley Union Cemetery, and the roadside plaque at Kidd's Corners on Highway 28. Drawing from rare booklets like Ven. W.J. Scott's 2019 bicentenary tribute and Harold L. White's 1993 account, we separate fact from fiction, exploring rumors of murder and con artistry.
If you love historical mysteries, hymns, and on-site explorations, hit like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more Canadian hidden gems! What do you think—was Kidd-Byrne a devoted disciple or a master con artist? Comment below!