The Cemeteries of Christ Church Flamborough circa 1860s
Historical overload is here. For anyone interested in finding their forefathers and foremothers you may be interested in this picture. As you can see the cemetery was in use then, but the older stones today, are in varying stages of decay. Many may no longer have family to tend them. None-the-less we do our best to make sure the records are available.
West Flamborough Municipal Cemetery, also known as Old Township Cemetery
On 10 January, 1817 1 acre, 2 perches of land was purchased by Titus G Simons and Manuel Overfield (Townwardens of Flamboro’ West) from John Green and Mary, his wife for the sum of 10 shillings. The land was “for the purpose of building a House to be used by an Episcopal Church, to Build a House for the use of a Public School and a Grave yard for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of the Township of Flamboro’ West and its Vicinity for Ever.” No records exist for burials this Cemetery. The Hamilton Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society had transcribed the stones that were in existence in 1990 noting that the oldest dates to 1805. This could be a transcription error caused by the deterioration of the stones. From photographs of the 1880s, it is obvious that many stones have been removed. The last burial in this part of the Cemetery took place in 1963.
More Cemeteries Were Added
Tunis Burying Ground
The area is part of land purchased by John Tunis on 13 June 1879. This area was used by the Tunis family from 1879 until 1961. When the Tunis family sold their land, they retained the right to access their Cemetery.
Morden Burying Ground
On 19 June 1875, Jacob Cochenour and his wife Susan sold a wedge of his property to Jonathan Morden for $50.00. Legend says one section of their Cemetery was set aside for the “Black” Mordens—the freed slaves who came with them to Upper Canada following the American Revolution.
Christ Church Cemetery
(old part—A & B)
Rev. John Strachan, Bishop of Toronto purchased land from James M. Kerby and Susan, his wife for an Episcopal Church and burial ground in connection with such Church on 22 September 1864 for the sum of $350.00. The first burial in this part was William Bullock in 1866.
Christ Church Cemetery (expansion 1—C)
Additional land was purchased on 15 November 1881.
Christ Church Cemetery (expansion 2—D)
The odd-shaped lot was purchased from William Francis Haines and Violet Elizabeth, his wife on 29 October 1947 for the sum of $1.00.
On 1 February 2001, the lands of the West Flamborough Municipal Cemetery, Morden Buying Ground and Tunis Burying Ground were declared to be abandoned Cemeteries and were transferred to Christ Church Flamborough. This area was consecrated on 28 April, 2002 by the Right Rev. Ralph Spence, Bishop of Niagara.
The Cemetery Map in 2019
