The Arthur Graham Family
Arthur Graham was born 1852, we believe in Cumberland County, England. A conclusive birth or baptism record has not been found as yet. He stated on his marriage registration his father’s name is James Graham and both him and his father have occupation listed as Husbandman. A Google search for the meaning of husbandman states “a person who cultivates the land; a farmer.” Arthur died in Snowden Township, Haliburton County in March of 1924.
Arthur married Sarah Isabella Bateman on the 14th of November 1877, at St. Michael’s Church in the Parish of Bowness, County of Cumberland. Sarah was born 7th December 1852 to William Bateman and Sarah Dixon.
Arthur leaves his wife and two small children to live with his wife’s sister and brother in law, Joseph & Agnes Chapman, and sets sail on the Sardinian ship. He arrives in Quebec, Canada on 23 May 1880. Sarah Isabella, age 27 and her two children John William, age 3 and Sarah Ann, age 1 are on the passenger list for the Moravian ship. They arrive in Quebec on 3 July 1881.
Census Information
1891 Census
The first we find this family in Ontario is on the 1891 census in North Victoria County, Snowden Township. Arthur age 39, wife Sarah Isabella age 37 and children John William age 13, Sarah Ann age 11, Louisa Isabella age 9, born in Snowden, Arthur Bateman age 7, Mary Ellen age 5, Joseph Marshall age 4, Jacob Clark age 2 and Elizabeth Virginia just 5 months old.
1901 Census
Still in North Victoria County, Snowden Township. Arthur age 49, wife Sarah is 47, and children John is 23, Louisa is 18, Arthur is 17, Mary is 15, Joseph is 14, Jacob is 12, Elizabeth is 10, Chapman is 8, Charles is 7, and Mossom is 4 years old.
Sarah is now 21 years old and married Richard Needler in 1898 and is living in Ops Township, Victoria County, Ontario.
1911 Census
Now in Snowden Township in Haliburton County. Arthur is listed as being 49* years old. Wife Sarah is 57 and children Joseph is 24, Jacob is 22, Elizabeth is 20, Chapman is 18, Charles 16, and Mossom 14. James Chapman, 28 years old, is listed as a boarder, was a son of Sarah’s sister Agnes Chapman.
*I believe the census taker wrote the wrong age for Arthur. Perhaps someone else in the household gave the information and didn’t know how old he was or the census taker misheard.
John W., 33 years old is living next door to his parents and marries his cousin Laura Chapman in 1919 (her parents are Joseph Chapman & Agnes Bateman).
Louisa, 28 years old, married Victor Blackwell in 1905 and is living in Prescott County, Ontario.
I haven’t located Arthur in the 1911 census. He marries I. Muriel in 1918 and lived in Lindsay, Ontario.
We find Mary, 25 years old as a married woman in Lindsay. She married Alexander Burke in 1905.
Sarah (Bateman) Graham died June 23, 1912 at only 60 years of age from Ptomaine poisoning, causing acute gastric enteritis. Ptomaine poisoning is food poisoning caused by bacteria or bacterial products.
Arthur Graham Sr. suffered a Paralytic Stroke at age 75 and died 5 days later on 9 March 1924.
Both Sarah and Arthur are buried in the Gelert Cemetery.
Note to descendants of the Graham family
We would love to have pictures of the individuals to augment the certificates that will be housed at the Irondale Museum, inside the building known as the Irondale Church. Interested in sharing? Please contact us at historical@irondaleontario.ca
