David Almas (1840 - 1867)
David Almas was the son of Adam Bowman Almas, Jr. (1840 - 1867), and Mary Unknown. He was age 20 in the 1861 Census of Norfolk County (Townsend Township).
David married Jane Newman, born August 1843, England, daughter of James Newman and Ann Hayes. Jane Newman in the 1851 Census of Townsend Township, Norfolk County is age 8. She is age 17 in the 1861 Census. The marriage record says: "Almos David, 2l, Townsend, Flamborough, s/o Adam & Mary, married l2 Oct l86l Jane Newman, l8, Townsend, England, d/o James & Mary." The reference to Jane's parents being James & Mary is incorrect. Indeed, her father was James Newman, but her mother was Anne Hayes as is indicated by each Census in Ontario as well as the 1841 Census reference to them in Manningford Abbots, Wiltshire, England.
The residence (above), which was the Harmer Family homestead (Lot 27, Concession 1, West Flamborough), is now demolished (after 1996) - at Lot 27, Concession 1, West Flamborough Township, Wentworth County. If faced west, on the Old Guelph Road, just south of the intersection with the Old Dundas Road (today, across from a Sikh place of worship).
A family story says that David died of pneumonia following a time in the cold and rain looking after some sick pigs. Following David's death, Jane Newman remarried a man surnamed Morden (see below).
Jane Newman died 4 October, 1874 and was buried 11 October, 1874 in the Old Hopkins Cemetery, West Flamborough.
D.A. (David Almas market in old Hopkins Cemetery)
David Almas and Jane Newman, and her parents, are all buried in the Old Hopkins Cemetery. When I first visited the cemetery, it was almost completely hidden in a line of trees and bushes that stretch to the west of a ravine to the back of the land that David farmed. It was in various stages of decay each time I visited, onceso overgrown with lilacs, it presented a jungle-line appearance and was difficult to navigate. It has since been cleaned up by a local historical group, as a centennial project.
The children of David Almas and Jane Newman were:
1. Henry Almas - born 6 August, 1861 - died 14 January, 1936; buried in the Grove Cemetery, Dundas, ON
2. Emily Jane Almas - born 21 July, 1864 - died 17 February, 1948. She married George William Murphy (6 July, 1858 - 21 October, 1943). Their children were: James Henry (16 March 1883 - 8 October 1955; married (1)Leah Bates 1887 - 9 March 1924 and (2) Margaret Lewis 9 August 1889 - December 1957; Elgin (1886 - 19 July 1911), and Pearl (10 August 1889 - 29 May 1951) married Wiliam Guy Mitchell (16 August 1889 - 20 October 1973), issue: Ruby Genevieve Mitchell.
Ruby Mitchell married Hugh Wilfred Millard and had Patrician Jean (m. unknown; issue: Michelle Alexandra Lucille), William Paul Millard (married Linda Ann Linsday and had issue: Kenneth Paul, Cheryl Delyn and Joseph Steven; and Mitchell Millard (b. & d. 27 Jan. 1947).
3. Newman James Almas - born 1866 - died 27 October, 1930; buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Burlington, ON
The children of Jane Newman and her second husband --- Morden, were:
1. Mary A. Morden - born 1872
2. Alberta Morden - married Frank Secord
facing SE (bushes cover the old Hopkins cemetery
David Almas farmed the old Hopkins farm (which became the Harmer homestead), several acres at the corner of the Old Dundas Road and the Old Guelph Road - just west of the present Highway #6, north of Highway 403. Along a ravine to the east of the property is a forest that ends in a quiet place where there is an old cemetery - the old Hopkins Cemetery.
The Old Hopkins Cemetery when still covered with weeds and saplings. It is about 150 metres from the Old Dundas Road, near the SW corner that intersects with the Old Guelph Road.
The David Almas stone - also with information concerning his wife, Jane Newman.
James Newman and his wife Anne Hayes, parents of Jane Newman, are also buried in the Old Hopkins Cemetery.
