Individual Details

Birth

185. Arthur⁵ JAMES (Samuel⁴, Samuel³, Samuel², Richard¹) was born 31 Jul 1859 in Magpie Cottage, Sandhurst, Kent Co., England, and died 15 Aug 1937. He married (1) Eliza TREE 27 Nov 1880 in Brighton, Sussex, England, daughter of William TREE and Mary ___. She was born Abt. 1853 in Brighton, Sussex, England, and died 11 Nov 1882 in High Street, Orpington, Kent Co., England²⁰⁵. He married (2) Lydia Susannah SCARROW 04 Nov 1885 in Orillia, Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada, daughter of Henry SCARROW and Ellen NELSON. She was born 17 Feb 1860 in Eramosa Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada²⁰⁶, and died 11 Jan 1925 in Fesserton, Ontario, Canada²⁰⁷.
Notes for Arthur JAMES:
The James-Scarrow family Bible listed Battle, Sussex, England as Arthur's place of origin, but his birth certificate confirmed that he was born in Sandhurst, Kent, a small village just west of Battle. Arthur called himself a Welshman, suggesting either of his parents, Samuel James or Harriet Small, may have been born in Wales, but this didn't prove to be the case.
Arthur married Eliza Tree 27 Nov 1880 in Brighton, Sussex, the city where she had been born. The bride was five years older than the groom, but there is no evidence that she had been previously married or had children. Here is Arthur in the 1881 British Census with Eliza, in the village in where his parents had also re-located:
Dwelling: 26 Cottage Census Place: Bexley, Kent, England Source: FHL Film 1341204 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 0860 Folio 64 Page 13 Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Arthur JAMES M 22 M Sandhurst, Kent, England Rel: Head Occ: Farm Laborer
Eliza JAMES M 27 F Brighton, Sussex, England Rel: Wife Occ: Laborers Wife
There is also no evidence that the couple had any children. Her death certificate confirms that Eliza died of pneumonia, shortly before they had been married for two years.
According to the 1901 Census for Tay Township, Simcoe Co., Arthur waited about two years before leaving England in 1884 when he was 25. Although he was probably lured by the lumber industry and the opportunity to obtain a large parcel of land, his grandson Laurence remembers Arthur telling him about working with his father in the Old Country and objecting to addressing their boss as "Sir." "You're too independent!" shouted his father. "Well," replied Arthur: "I'm off to an independent country then." He carried this independence into old age, refusing to draw his Old Age Pension.
Arthur married his second wife, Lydia Susanna Scarrow, a fair haired young woman, who was part of package deal; she came with a brown eyed girl child. Lydia was the oldest daughter of an English father, Henry Scarrow, who had immigrated to Eramosa Township, near Guelph, Ontario in 1842 and an Ontario-born mother, Ellen Amelia Nelson. The couple probably met at Longford Mills where Lydia was working as a camp cook.
Marriage transcript: "Arthur James, 26, a widowed mill hand, residing in North Orillia and born in England, the son of Samuel and Harriet, married Lydia Susannah Scarrow, 23, a spinster residing in North Orillia, and born in Ontario, the daughter of Henry and Ellen Amelia Scarrow by licence 4 Nov 1885 in Orillia, Ontario. The groom was Anglican, the bride was Baptist and they were married by William Galbraith. Witnesses were the bride's parents. [Source: James-Scarrow marriage registration: Archives of Ontario microfilm, Simcoe County Marriage Registerations, Mfm MS 932, Reel 51, #10708.]
Following their marriage, Arthur worked at Carter's Lumbermill in Fesserton, Ontario, eventually becoming a yard foreman. After a couple of fires, Carter's Mill reportedly relocated to British Columbia under the name Fesserton Timber Mill According to the 1901 Census for Tay Township, Arthur was earning $325. per annum.
Arthur and Lydia also farmed, owning 69 acres above a hill, and another 35 acres below this hill, along the shores of Matchedash Bay. A railroad bed and later a highway bisected these two parcels of land. The original James homestead was on the lower half. This would become daughter Rhoda's place, and later still, her son Arthur Rice's place. Arthur James also lived in the house above the hill, in a vain attempt to alleviate his wife Lydia's asthma. Arthur's youngest surviving son, "Nelson," assumed ownership of this farm when Arthur took sick in 1936. By nowLydia had been dead for nearly ten years, and Arthur went back to live in the old homestead below.
An unidentified news clipping gave this obituary for Arthur James: "On Sunday, August 15, Mr. Arthur James passed quietly away at his home in Fesserton. He had not been well for some time, and for three weeks before his death he had been confined to his bed with scant hope for his recovery. He was born in Kent, England 78 years ago and came to Canada at the age of 22 [sic]. Shortly after he married Lydia Scarrow of Uhthoff. They settled near Fesserton where they resided until death claimed Mrs. James ten years ago. Mr. James continued to work his farm until last Thanksgiving when he found it necessary to relinquish most of his work to younger hands. He took an active interest in public affairs and served as a trustee on the Fesserton School Board for some time. He is survived by his five daughters, Mrs. Harry Turner of Penetanguishene; Mrs. Harriet Bumstead of Midland; Mrs. William Rice of Fesserton (recently of Midland); Mrs Findlay McCuaig of North River; Mrs William Oliver of Toronto and two sons, Arthur of Toronto and Nelson of Fesserton. The funeral service held at his home was conducted by Rev. Canch Maconachie. The remains were laid to rest in Waubaushene Cemetery."
We first visited Waubaushene Cemetery in 1994. There is a large marble tombstone erected for Arthur who is buried with his wife Lydia and their infant children: their firstborn Elize, who lived only a few days, and their youngest child, Thomas Henry, who d died of scarlet fever. Thomas was not yet 2 years old. Another 2 year old died that same year. Lydia's daughter Bessie was a teenager when her little girl drowned in a post hole. The child's name was Berniece Woods. The location of her grave is unknown. Arthur's mother-in-law Ellen Amelia (Nelson) Scarrow has a small, flattened stone nearby; her husband is buried out west.
There are at least three formal portraits of Arthur and Lydia, including a framed photograph which was taken when they were in their early 40s, now in Alan and Nancy James' possession. Here is a snapshot of Arthur and Lydia's family in the1901 Automated Census Transcription Project: District:
ON SIMCOE (East/Est) (#113) Subdistrict: Tay m-6 Page 3 Details: Schedule 1 Microfilm T-6496 49 James Arthur M Head M Jul 31 1859 50 27
James Lydia S F Wife M Feb 17 1860 27
James Harriet F Daughter S Jun 5 1887 2 27
James Rhoda E F Daughter S Apr 11 1889 3 27
James Arthur E M Son S Sep 25 1891 4 27
James Lydia S F Daughter S May 21 1893 5 27 James Alvio E F Daughter S Mar 24 1896 6 27
James Samuel N? M Son S Dec 4 1897 7 27
James Thomas H? M Son S Mar 19 1901 15/365
1911 / Ontario / Simcoe East / 19 Tay / page 4
James Arthur M Head M Jul 1859 51 1901 23 43
James Lydia F Wife M Feb 1860 51 1901 24 43
James Lydia F Daughter S May 1892 18 1901 25 43
James Alice F Daughter S Mar 1896 15 1901 26 43
James Samuel M Son S Dec 1898 13
More About Arthur JAMES:
Baptism: 05 Oct 1859, Newenden, Kent Co., England²⁰⁸
Burial: Waubaushene Cemetery [Tay Twp., Simcoe Co.] Ontario, Canada
Cause of Death: Old age.
Census: 1861, Magpie Cottage, Sandhurst, Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, Kent Co., England²⁰⁹
Immigrated: 1884, Fesserton, Tay Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada
Occupation: 1880, Labourer
Resided: 01 Sep 1891, Con 12, Lot 7, Tay Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada
Notes for Eliza TREE:
This may be the index for Eliza's birth register:
Quarter: December
Year: 1852
District: Brighton
County: Sussex East Sussex
Volume: 2b
Page: 182
Eliza and Arthur during the 1881 British Census:
Dwelling: 26 Cottage
Census Place: Bexley, Kent, England
Source: FHL Film 1341204 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 0860 Folio 64 Page 13
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Arthur JAMES M 22 M Sandhurst, Kent, England
Rel: Head
Occ: Farm Laborer
Eliza JAMES M 27 F Brighton, Sussex, England
Rel: Wife
Occ: Laborers Wife
More About Eliza TREE:
Cause of Death: Pneumonia
Occupation: 1880, domestic servant
Resided: 1880, 41 Blackman St., Brighton, Sussex, England
Notes for Lydia Susannah SCARROW:
Entries, along with one for her own marriage, are recorded in the James-Scarrow Family Bible, probably in Lydia's hand. She is also listed in the 1861 Census for Eramosa Township along with her parents and her older brother Edmund, as having been born in Ontario (p.18). It looks like her parents were living on brother William Scarrow's homestead at the time. She appears again with this family in the 1871 Census for Eramosa Township.
Lydia is living in Alliston in 1881: Census Place: Alleston, Simcoe South, Ontario, Canada Source: FHL Film 1375886 NAC C-13250 Dist 138 SubDist G Page 26 Family 126 Sex Marr Age Origin Birthplace
Robt. HENDERSON M M 35 Irish O Occ: Hotel Keeper Religion: Episcopal Ellen HENDERSON F M 31 Irish O Religion: Episcopal
Mary A. HENDERSON F 8 Irish O Religion: Episcopal
Willie HENDERSON M 3 Irish O Religion: Episcopal
Jane HENDERSON F <1 Irish O Religion: Episcopal Born: Jun; 9/12
Donald MCKAY M 40 Scottish O Occ: Carpenter Religion: Presbyterian Canada
Lydia SCARROW F 21 English O Occ: Servant Religion: Methodist Canada
Alex. CORBIT M 25 Scottish Scotland Occ: Stone Mason
My Aunt Doris told me that Lydia worked as a cook in a lumber mill at Longford Mills, which in the 1880s was home to 1200, and was one of the largest growing towns of its day. Longford Mills had many other things than employment to offer its people. Among them was the best arena for miles around, its own community school, mercantile, post office, church, train station and a beautiful park owned by lumber baron and town founder, John Thompson. This has become Geneva Park, YMCA Camp and Conference Centre and Longford Mills itself has almost been swallowed up by Casino Rama. Gone too is the lumber mill located on Lake St. John in Longford Mills where Lydia took perhaps her first train trip for her first job, but it is still possible to imagine her getting off at the state-of-the-art train station and walking a few short steps past the newly built Methodist church to her job in the mill kitchen. Her place of employment is almost certainly where she met the brown eyes man who impregnated her. Her only brown-eyed child was born before she married Arthur James; in fact Bessie was born before Arthur James had even immigrated to Ontario. Bessie's marriage certificate records her birth place as Washago, which is very near Longford.
Lydia's brother Edmund later farmed in the Orillia area, and she moved to Fesserton with her husband Arthur, not far away. Throughout her life, Lydia maintained close contact with her Scarrow family. At least two of her siblings were married in Fesserton where she lived, although they weren't residents and almost certainly her mother spent her last years with her, since she died in her home and is buried near her in Waubaushene Cemetery. Lydia's older brother, Edmund Scarrow, who only had one child, is buried with the aforementioned Bessie in Penetang, Ontario.
Lydia suffered greatly from asthma, and was invalided after the birth and death of her last child Thomas Henry when she was in her early 40s. (This family suffered a double tragedy the year Thomas died; daughter Bessie's two year old drowned in a post hole.) Lydia is believed to have died during an asthma attack, but she also had pneumonia.
More About Lydia Susannah SCARROW:
Burial: Waubaushene Cemetery, Tay Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada
Cause of Death: Asthma, complicated by pneumonia.
Census: 1871, Eramosa Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada²¹⁰
Medical Information: Lydia had asthma for 15 years before she died. She had been sick with pneumonia for five days. Dr. W.B. Boyd was the physician. Includes her parents' names, countrie of origin and her birth date.
Resided: 05 Sep 1880, Glencairn, Simcoe Co?, Ontario, Canada
Children of Arthur JAMES and Lydia SCARROW are:
443 i. Elize⁶ JAMES, born 07 Jun 1886 in Fesserton, Tay Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada; died 12 Jun 1886.
More About Elize JAMES:
Burial: Waubaushene Cemetery, Ontario, Canada
Cause of Death: Prematurity.
+ 444 ii. Harriet JAMES, born 05 Jun 1887 in Fesserton, Tay Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada; died 04 Oct 1971.
+ 445 iii. Rhoda Elsie JAMES, born 11 Apr 1889 in Fesserton, Tay Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada; died Jan 1973.
+ 446 iv. Arthur "Art" Edmond JAMES, born 25 Sep 1891 in Fesserton, Tay Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada; died 22 Jul 1969.
+ 447 v. Lydia Susannah "Susie" JAMES, born 21 May 1893 in Fesserton, Tay Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada; died 29 Sep 1973.
+ 448 vi. Alice Emily JAMES, born 24 Mar 1896 in Fesserton, Tay Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada; died 06 Feb 1967 in Toronto General Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
+ 449 vii. Samuel "Nelson" JAMES, born 04 Dec 1897 in Fesserton, Ontario, Canada; died 15 Jan 1963.
450 viii. Thomas Henry JAMES, born 19 Mar 1901 in Fesserton, Tay Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada²¹¹; died 20 Sep 1902²¹².