Chapter 3.0
George Bramhill and Ann Garland
By Lauretta Shewan

George Bramhill was born Feb. 21, 1818 in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England. On April 6, 1840 he married Ann Garland. Ann was born Nov. 2, 1822. They had 8 children but only 3 lived to come to Canada with them in 1854. Matthew (Lauretta’s grandfather), Ellen (Lauretta’s step-grandmother who married my grandfather Ellis Munford, my dad’s father), and Elizabeth. They were 6 weeks crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a vessel.

They settled at Brantford for a while before moving to Lot 18, Concession 4 of Minto Township, about 160 km (100 miles) north west of Toronto. They were amongst later settlers and Scottish immigrants had already settled on most of the land. Mr. & Mrs. George Bramhill started with 2 oxen, 2 horses and 4 cows. The family lived in a log house for around 20 years as they endured many hardships of the early pioneers. George Bramhill and his son Matthew Bramhill had to clear the land on lot 18, Concession 4, Minto Township. They cleared 30 acres, since most of the property was forest.

Eight more children were born in Canada but only 4 lived to be adults. Sarah Ann (Mrs. John Cooper), Hannah Keziah (Mrs. Richard Goodwin), William George (married Jane Wilkin), John Thomas (married Sarah Ann Cooper).
 
 
 

George and Ann Bramhill – 1876
 
 

In 1868 George Bramhill, for the sum of $150.00, received the crown deed to the farm. Plans were being made to build a new brick house in 1876 but George Bramhill received an injury to his hernia while ploughing on his farm. He died April 29, 1876 and Mrs. Bramhill had to carry on with the building of the new home. This brick house was one of the first to be built in this district, it replaced the log house in 1877.

George & Ann (Garland) Bramhill homesteaded on Lot 18, Concession 4 of Minto Township. When son Matthew Bramhill married Elizabeth Bent, they took over the farm and lived there for 18 years before moving to Lot 21, Concession 3 of Minto Township. Then George and Ann’s youngest son, John Thomas Bramhill, took over the farm. It was passed on to their son Garland and Laura (Nelson) Bramhill who passed it on to their son Robert and Lynda (Weber) Bramhill. As of 1998 Robert and Lynda still lived in the brick house that was built in 1877.
 
 
 
 
 

Ann (Garland) Bramhill

 
 
 
 

George and Ann's Wedding Registration

Note: This Marriage Registration shows that George was a Labourer when he married Ann. The marriage is registered on April 13, 1841 in the Parish of Thorne in the County of Lincoln. The document shows that George's father was Matthew, a labourer and Ann's father was George Garland who profession was a "Sluice Keeper?"
 

The Passing of George Bramhill

The following poem, written by Elizabeth "Bramhill" Goodwin, daughter of George Bramhill, in 1881, about Lauretta's Great Grandfather George Bramhill, is in a little book in the front of the Goodwin Family Tree Book.

On the Death of Mr. G. Bramhill
(who died April 29, 1876)

And can it be that death is on our track?
That we must leave this earth and all we love
This body to the dust be given back,
This soul unclothed must wing its flight above?

Yes this is true; our body's made of dust;
Of this we've lately had a proof most clear,
When our loved friend and neighbour left his trust
While to our aching hearts he was so dear.

On Thursday morn all seemed bright as a flower,
Our brother took his team and went to plough,
Before the sun had reached the midday hour
The blow was struck - the deadly, fatal blow.

In pain he lingered on a little while.
Sad hours and long, no doubt, they seemed to him,
But ere the sun on Saturday had smiled,
The Pearly Gates were ope'd, and he passed through.

A local preacher on the plan was he,
And often did he preach the Word of Life;
For many years he laboured in this cause,
Nor eased his labours only with his life.

As superintendent of the Sabbath school,
Beloved by all the children great and small,
That place he's kept since we began the school.
But left it now, lamented much by all.

As leader of our class we'll miss him much;
A loving friend and counselor was he;
And the advice he gave to all was such,
As stimulates to truth and piety.

A peacemaker in life he boldly stood,
Though all around the surging billows rolled,
Few foes he had, for all believed him good,
For grace divine his inward life controlled

But he is gone; his pleasant beaming face
In church, nor school, no class meeting will see
His words we will try to think upon, while grace
Shall fit us for his glorious company.

We all believed him ready for the call -
Arise, my love, my fair one, come away!
His life, his death speaks volumes to us all,
To stand prepared in this our glorious day.

But if the classmates and the neighbourhood round
Miss Brother Bramhill from his usual place,
Then how much deeper, sorer is the wound
That strikes the head and ends his earthly race.

He's taken from the family of his love
A sudden stroke has bid him from their view;
And now they weep for him, while he above
Sings the sweet song the Bible says is new.

Wife of his youth, and children of his prayers,
How earnestly he sought to lead you on
In that good path, through all his lengthening years
And did all that he could for everyone.

O let the counsels he to you hath given
Be dear unto your hearts, for his dear sake;
Be this your earnest wish - to meet in Heaven
That loving head which death from you did take.

May God in mercy draw your bleeding hearts
More firmly on his promise to depend;
And may you all hold fast the better part
And meet above this short life shall end.

O may we all friends and acquaintance too,
More closely live to God, more firmly trust,
Do all the work he has for us to do,
Before our bodies, too are laid to dust.

Almighty God, they blessing we implore,
To help us live and walk as in thy fear;
To do our work, then, through thy open door
Pass in and feel at home forever there.


Their children:
                                             Born                      Died
                John                      Sep. 22, 1841         Sep. 25, 1841     b. Epworth, Lincolnshire
                Elizabeth               Aug. 25, 1842         Aug. 27, 1842     b. Epworth, Lincolnshire
                Mathew                Aug. 21, 1843         Jan. 28, 1905       b. Epworth, Lincolnshire
                Luke                     Jan. 3, 1845             Jan. 3, 1845        b. Epworth, Lincolnshire
                Mark                    Jan. 3, 1845             Jan. 3, 1845 Twin to Luke
                Ellen                     Oct. 30, 1846          Jan. 5, 1909         b. Epworth, Lincolnshire
                George                 Mar. 20, 1849         Nov. 25, 1849      b. Epworth, Lincolnshire
                Elizabeth               Feb. 11, 1852         Jun. 26, 1916        b. Epworth, Lincolnshire
                George                 Nov. 20, 1853         Dec. 8, 1854        b. Minto Township, Ont.
                Richard                 Jan. 2, 1855             Jun. 2, 1856         b. Minto Township, Ont.
                Sarah Ann             Jun. 2, 1856             Mar. 19, 1925     b. Minto Township, Ont.
                Hannah Keziah      Jun. 8, 1858             Aug. 3, 1924       b. Minto Township, Ont.
                William George     Sep. 19, 1861            1890                  b. Minto Township, Ont.
                John Thomas         Aug. 9, 1863             1942                   b. Minto Township, Ont.
                George William      Mar. 9, 1865            Sep. 19, 1865     b. Minto Township, Ont.
                Mary                     Mar. 7, 1867            Mar. 7, 1867       b. Minto Township, Ont.
 
 

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