Silas Durham
ID # 2844, (1837-1877)
| Father | Joseph Durham (1809-1875) |
| Mother | Jerusha Lucinda Lawrason (1817-1844) |
| Baptism | Silas Durham was baptized in 1837. |
| Death | He died on 16 January 1877 at Toronto, York Co., Ontario. |
| Note | Thomas Stuart Lawrason, in his 1929 chart of the Lawrason family, shows two sons for Joseph Durham and his wife Lucinda Lawrason. The first is Albert Durham and the second Daniel Showers Durham. The 1851 census in South Dumfries shows the oldest child in the household of Joseph Durham (with his second wife Emma) to be Silas. Daniel is the second child. At some level, the name Albert is likely correct, but to this point the only documentary evidence we have is for a Silas in South Dumfries, age 15, in the 1851 census, and a page from the 1860 U.S. census taken at Cedar Springs, Nelson Twp., Kent County, Michigan. There, Silas Durham, age 22, born Canada West, is staying at a hotel and is shown as a merchant. Given that the 1860 census was taken in June and was likely based on Silas' current age, and that the 1851 census wasn't taken until January of 1852 and the age sought was that of next birthday, we are probably looking at the same person. No Albert Durham has been found. Information regarding the death of Silas Durham presents us with a problem. There are two death registrations - one reported in Toronto and the other in South Dumfries. Since the informant was the coroner in the Toronto registration, we must believe that Silas died in Toronto. The Toronto death registration reads as follows: 017626-77 Toronto, York Co. Silas Durnam (so spelled) died 16 January 1877. Age about 40 years. Grocer. Place of birth County of Brant, Ont. Certified Cause of Death: Verdict: Died from fainting caused by over indulgence in intoxicating liquors. Informant A.A. Biddel, M.D., Coroner, City of Toronto. Regd. 17 January 1877. Religious denom. of Deceased: Methodist. Registrar Robert Roddy. The South Dumfries death registration is badly faded, especially the given name. The surname and all thereafter is mainly legible and readable. It reads: 021224-77 South Dumfries, Brant Co. Silas Durham died January 16, 1877. Age 40 (the figures are faded). Merchant. Born South Dumfries. Cause of death: Fainting caused by over indulgence in intoxicating liquors. 2 days. Physician N.E. Mainwaring. Informant John P. Galloway, clerk, St. George. Registered 17 January 1877. Religious denom. Methodist. Registrar David Baptie. As can be seen, the basic information in each registration is nearly identical. The given name in the South Dumfries registration is badly faded, however 'Silas' appears to be the given name that is written. Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries has no record of a burial for Silas. The St. George Cemetery transcription shows no inscription for Silas. No obituary has been found. It may be noted that the informant in the South Dumfries registration, John P. Galloway, was married to Rebecca Durham, daughter of Joseph Durham and Emma Williams, Joseph's second wife. Rebecca was a half sister to Silas. No records of a marriage or children for Silas have been found, nor a place of burial. |
| Last Edited | 4 Nov 2016 |