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Adam Bowman Almas Jr. (1816 - 1880)
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Adam Bowman Almas, Jr. (son of Adam Bowman Almas Sr. and Elizabeth Kitson) was born in Ancaster Township, Wentworth County, ON in 1816. He died in 1880. He is the only one buried in the Church of the Ascension section of the Hamilton Cemetary (Plot D., in Hamilton, ON). (re Hamilton Cemetery, see below)
He was married three times. His first wife was Mary (Unknown). I have no further information about her at this time. She must have died before or around 1847. Their children were:
1. David Almas - born 1840, West Flamborough, ON ? (or Norfolk Co., ON) - died 21 May, 1867, West Flamblorough, ON. He is buried at the Old Hopkins Cemetery, near the Old Guelph Road and Old Dundas Road, in West Flamborough.
2. Mary Jane Almas - born 1846
Adam Almas Jr.'s second wife was Eliza Ann Burtch. Born in born 1821, she died 16 July, 1853 and is buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Moulton Township, Haldimand County, ON. The children of David Almas and Eliza Ann Burth were:
1. Harris Emmanuel Almas - born 15 April, 1850
2. Anne Maria Almas - 22 August, 1851
3. Margaret Almas - born 9 March, 1852 - died 28 February, 1940?; buried at St. John's Anglican Church, Ancaster, ON
4. Elizabeth Almas - born 1852 - died 2 October, 1875
5. Eliza Ann Almas - born 16 April, 1853 - died 30 July, 1853
A third wife was Mary Ellen Ann Bird, the daughter of Thomas Cook Bird, who born the 15th of February, 1817 in England and died 15th October, 1860 at Townsend Township, Norfolk Co., ON. She is buried at the Greenwood Cemetary, Springvale, Haldimand Co. They were married in Ancaster Township, ON. Children of Adam Bowman Almas Jr. and Mary Ellen Ann Bird were:
1. Philip Almas - born ca 1852.
2. Lucinda Almas - born 1858 - died 12 April, 1932; buried at Salem United, Charlotteville, Norfolk Co, ON. She was married on 20th of June, 1877 toJohn Edward Smith (1835, Lincoln Co., ON - 2907). He was the son of William David Smith and Margaret Honsinger. They had a child: Lillian Maude Smith who was born on the first of June, 1878. John Edward Smith was married twice. I have a copy of Lucinda's letter. She was known as Aunt Lu and my mother remembers her. The letter is a notorized copy of her pedigree drawn up to prove descendency from Christian Almas and Magdalena Bacher, in order to 'cash in' on the 'Baker Estate' - which was proved to be an elaborate scam in the 1930's.
3. Mary E. Almas - who lived from 1860 to 1923.
Hamilton Cemetery, on York Boulevard, is the oldest municipally owned and operated cemetery not only in Hamilton but also in Canada.
Its nearly 100 acres of land are located on Burlington Heights (a high sand and gravel bar that separates Hamilton Harbour from Cootes Paradise). The aboriginal people (Mississauga) used it as both a meeting place as well as a burial ground.
During the War of 1812, British forces used Burlington Heights as an encampment since it was a strategic point of defence against the invading American forces. Remnants of the military ramparts or earthworks can still be seen today within Dundurn Park and the Hamilton Cemetery. These first lines of defence are marked out with commemorative monuments in two areas of the cemetery. It is from this location - Burlington Heights - that the British forces walked, over night, to engage a surprise attack on the American forces at Stoney Creek.
In January 1847 a tract of land was purchased by Christ’s Church from Sir Allan Napier MacNab for the purpose of establishing a burying ground. The first interment in Christ’s Church Cemetery (CC) was that of George Pennington. The following year the City of Hamilton acquired its own tract of land and named it Burlington Heights Cemetery. On May 14th, 1850 the City conducted its first interment of William Hetherington in a single grave. In 1851 Church of the Ascension Cemetery (C of A) held its first service.
Some time between 1855 and 1865, the Cemetery Lodge and Chapel were built. The Cemetery Lodge, also known as the Gatehouse, was originally used as the residence of the cemetery caretaker. It retains many of its original architectural features, including: exterior limestone; stained-glass, arched windows (in the section of the building once used as the chapel); dark, wood paneling; and a fireproof room referred to as the vault. Presently, this building serves as the administrative office for the Hamilton Municipal Cemeteries.
Until the late 1800's, all three cemeteries were maintained by separate groups. Yet, financial problems plagued both Anglican churches, making it difficult for them to continue the upkeep and sale of land within their cemeteries. An agreement was signed between the authorities of the two churches and the City making these three cemeteries one. The new amalgamated cemetery was called Hamilton Cemetery