| Notes |
- The Globe (Toronto) December 2, 1909 John Latham Killed A Fatal Accident at the Don Valley Brick Works
Piece of Clay weighing five hundred pounds rolled down on his head -Death was instantaneous - No inquest
"Crushed beneath a piece of clay weighing five hundred pounds, which broke away from an embankment where he was at work, John Latham, a Labour, was almost instantly killed yesterday afternoon at the Don Valley Brick Works. Latham was struck upon the head and rendered unconscious. He lived only a short time, death resulting before physicians reached the works. Coroner C.H. Britton afterwards viewed the remains, and after inquiring into all the circumstances, decided an inquest was not necessary. Deceased who was 28 years old, lived on Gamble Avenue, Todmorden. His widow and two children survive."
Arlene and Audrey you asked me to write down what I remembered about My Father your GrandFather - who was killed at age 28. (Letter was written about 1980)
We four children had no bed of roses, and sometimes when I hear people talking of hard times - I would like to tell them, our sad story. I really wouldn't but I have no patience with people, but then again who cares?
John William Latham born Nov. 5th 1880, only son of Bella (Cooper) Latham, she later married again, his name was Ashby. John Latham married Sarah Margaret Burgess eight child of John and Martha (Purchase) Burgess. Sarah Margaret's Mother died shortly after the birth of her ninth child, Mother and baby are buried together.
John (Jack) Burgess were married in 1902 or 1903 and a daughter was born. In 1904 Verna, another daughter was born in 1906 named Audrey. Another daughter named Sarah was born in 1908. In 1909 Jack Latham was killed in a cave in at the Don Valley Brick Yard in Todmorden Ontario, just East of Toronto. He was 28 years age. His Wife Sarah was left with 3 little girls, and she was 5 months pregnant with another child. Then baby was born April 13th 1910. There she was with 4 children and not a cent or anything to her name. Can you think of anything worse? What a hopeless' situation. The 3 little girls were shipped off to the Protestant orphans Home 344 Dovercourt Road, Toronto, and the baby boy stayed with his paternal Grandmother who by now had a very large family of her won. He was later taken to the home (at 2 years of age) John William.
If a tragedy like this was to happen today, there would be a hue out cry but nobody really cared. Sarah's brother was head man at the Brickyard and if anyone could have helped her I guess it would have been him. He had a School named after him in Toronto, (it is still a School, The William Burgess School) I guess everyone had to look out for themselves. Poor dear Sarah. She went to work in the home of her uncle Johnnie Lennox, she worked for Uncle Johnnie his married daughter Lizzie, and her Husband, and their children, also his crazy daughter Maggie (and I do mean crazy) at times she was quite violent (she had been kicked in the head by a horse at a young age. Sarah had to contend with all this and was paid $8 a month. In the meantime Sarah's children were in the home. It was alright, you got up in the morning by a bell ringing and did everything by bell, you always lined up in 2s and marched everywhere, no running, no dawdling, food was plain, lots of bread and watered milk, butter on bread on Sunday, stewed fruit, prunes apricots apples figs, no one was really hungry.
Verna who was 6 years old when her Father was killed remembers him, he used to lie on the floor with her sitting and bouncing and he would sing. Shall there be any stars in my crown. She also remembers the day he was killed, his dog Fido a Dalmatian came home, shortly after the dog came home the Doctor drove up in his horse and buggy and came into the house to tell Sarah that Jack had been killed. She fell to the floor and seemed to be surrounded by a mist which seemed to come from her body. It was as if all the good came out of her and her unborn child, and in later years when Jack II suffered so and had so many operations and had his leg amputated and died at 39, Verna always remembered the day her Mother collapsed with Jack inside of her and thought he had been doomed then, and she thought there was a curse on the Latham men.
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1880 - 1909 (29 years)
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