Bowes United Church Cemetery, Milton

Bowes Family Plots

Grave of J.A. Bowes
Cast Iron Marker

Rev. George Ferguson
First Minister of the Wesleyan Methodist Church

Bowes United Church Cemetery is located on the east side of Regional Road 25 between Derry Road and  Britannia Road in Milton.   In 1827 Rev. Anson Green preached at the home of Joseph Bowes, by 1835 the congregation had grown too big to be accommodated at Joseph's home.  So Joseph and his neighbor John Willmott built a frame building which became known as Bowes Church on the southern corner of Joseph's farm with a cemetery beside it.  The building was dedicated in 1837, but a deed was not registered to the Methodist Church trustees until 1875. The church would join the United Church of Canada in 1925.  

By the 1950's membership was starting to dwindle and the congregation amalgamated with other churches in the area. In 1958 the church building was sold to the St. Clair Masonic Lodge Association who still own the building to this day.  The Cemetery is managed by the United Church of Canada, and appears to still receive burials for those with family plots.

St. Alban's Anglican Church Cemetery, Palgrave (Caledon)

The Abandoned Church of St. Alban's
Palgrave

St. Alban's Anglican Church is located on the east side of Hwy 50, in Palgrave. It was established in 1878 on land that was purchased from Henry Mullen and Robert Grower.  The church closed in 1917 but was still considered a worship site by the Toronto Anglican Synod until 1995, the church property was sold in 1998.  

The cemetery was located at the back of the property, but most of the burials were relocated to Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bolton after the church closed. There is supposedly only one monument left for John Rowley, but its not sure if he was re-interned at Laurel Hill or is still at St. Alban's.

Local information is that the building was converted inside to a residence, but it is once again for sale.  The grave marker at the rear appears to be gone. However, access to the back of the property would be trespassing so if someone out there has any information, please let me know.

St. Stephen's Anglican Church Cemetery, Hornby

St. Stephen's Anglican Church
Hornby

St. Stephen's Cemetery
est. 1836.

St. Stephen's Anglican Church Cemetery is located on the south side of Steeles Ave, between Eighth and Ninth Lines in Hornby.  The building of the church began in 1836 on land that was donated by John Corwin on the north west corner of his farm.  The church was built on an angle to the property line so that the congregation, in Anglican tradition, faced the east when they worshiped at the alter.  This would explain the plot pattern in the original cemetery that was laid out in 1847, it is in line with the church building, while the newer cemetery has a north south orientation.

Burial plots originally cost 1 pound 5 shillings, in 1855 the cost increased to 2 pounds and then in 1860 to $10.00.  This money was used to maintain the cemetery and build the manse.

St. Stephen's is still an active congregation, the cemetery still receives burials and is managed by a cemetery board.

Albion Congregation Church Cemetery, Caledon

Albion Congregational Church Cemetery or burying ground is located on the east side of Hwy 50, just north of Warbrick Lane. It is on top of a hill and access is by a set of wooden steps that lead up to the side walk.

Not much is really know about the cemetery, where it was located or how many burials were there. The cairn has only a few headstones and only one has a legible name, that of J.C Warbrick M.D. who was the son of James and Maria Warbrick who in 1850 deeded the land for the Methodist church and cemetery, located across the road opposite Laurel Hill Cemetery. 

Most of the burials in this cemetery were relocated in 1962 to Laurel Hill Cemetery, due to the widening of Hwy 50.  The church which once stood on this land was first built in the early 1840's and was the first church built in the Bolton area.  After the death of the Rev Joseph Wheeler the congregation dwindled and the church was closed in 1890.  It is still not known how many burials remain in this site.

Munn's Cemetery, Oakville

Mary Wilcox d.  1820
First burial

Munn's Cemetery is located on the S/E corner of Dundas Street, (Hwy #5) and Sixth Line in the Town of Oakville. In 1808 Daniel Munn secured a crown grant of a approximately 200 acres, which became known as Munn's Corners.  His wife Millicent Post was from Postville which was located at Dundas Street and Seventh Line the next intersection to the east.  

In 1820 Daniel sold 72 perches approx 1/2 acre of his land to the local Yeoman for the sum of 10 pounds.  The deed was not registered until 1822.  It is generally believed that Danial was the first burial in the cemetery, as according to the Historical Society his era was 1779 to 1822. However, there is no tombstone with his name on it, there are a number for his ancestors and his wife Millicent is also buried there. But as indicated in the photo above the earliest marker is for Mary Wilcox who died in 1820.  The transcripts have her date of death in 1829, but the inscription when examined closely indicates 1820.

The Munn's farm stayed with the descendants until 1983 when it was sold to Senator Hays.  At this date the land is now being developed for a subdivision. The large trout pond on the Munn's/Hay's land is still located to the east of the property.  The cemetery is closed and is maintained by the City of Oakville.

Church of Christ Cemetery, Milton

Omagh Church of Christ Cemetery is located on the south side of Britannia Road, between Thompson Road and Fourth Line.  The land was donated by James Beaty in 1850, the building was also designed by James and constructed under the direction of his brother W. C. Beaty who was also the first preacher.

The church's denomination was originally Disciples of Christ and this building was referred to as the Meeting House.  Originally the congregation worshiped at the Beaty home, they moved to the local school and then finally to the Meeting House. The cemetery is located on both sides of the church, but only a few pioneer graves remain on the west side. The transcripts show that there were members of the Beaty family buried in the cemetery, but only a couple of headstones in a small cairn remain and several for the Wales family.

An historical note, John Beaty Jr. a relative of James would go on to become Mayor of Toronto, 1879-1880 and also a Member of Parliament.  The Church has been an active congregation for 161 years, and the cemetery still receives burials.     

Omagh Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Milton

Omagh Presbyterian Church

Omagh Presbyterian Church Cemetery is located at 2077 Britannia Road between Regional Road 25 and Thompson Road in the Town of Milton.  The land was purchased by the church trustees from Richard Moore a carpenter for 3 pounds. This parcel of land was conveyed forever to the trustees and their survivors and successors. 

The original church was a Methodist church and was built in 1838. The present day church which became a Presbyterian Church after deciding not to join the United Church of Canada in 1925 was built in 1908.  The building of the new church was done with the help of generous donations from Thomas Galbraith and John Ford, who both contributed the sum of $ 500.00 

The cemetery was enlarged in 1941 and another acre of land was donated in 1982. Richard Moore, Thomas Galbraith and John Ford all rest in this cemetery along with their families and their descendants. The cemetery still receives burials and is managed by a cemetery board. The Church still has Sunday services.