Thomas James Ackroyd (1878 - 1958)

Born 12 Jun 1878 in Toronto Gore, Peel, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Died 1958 at about age 79 in Peel, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Fred Nix [send private message]

Biography

Thomas James Ackroyd is born on June 12, 1878, in Toronto Gore Township, Peel County, Ontario, Canada [1]. He is the son of Joseph Ackroyd (1851-1921) and Martha Nix (1853-1940).

He can be found as a three-year old in the 1881 census living with his family who now live in Chinguacousy Township, the next township to the west of Toronto Gore [2] He is 12-years old in the 1891 census, still with his family in Chinguacousy [3]. In the 1901 census he is still living with his family, but he is now a farm labourer, as are his father and three brothers [4].

Thomas marries Alma Riches (1886-1960) in Peel County on January 27, 1908 [5]. Alma was born and in Brampton and, at the time of the wedding, was living in Brampton.

In the 1911 census Thomas and Alma are living in Chinguacousy with the parents of Thomas [6]. Thomas is a farm labourer. Things have not changed much in the 1921 census records [7]. Thomas and Alma are still living with Thomas’ parents in Chinguacousy and Thomas’s occupation is a labourer. In the 1931 census records, Thomas and Alma are still living in Chinguacousy and now they only have the mother of Thomas – the 77-year-old Martha – living with them [8]. There are also two boarders in the house.

Thomas dies in 1958 and is buried in the Brampton Cemetery [9]. Alma dies in 1960 and is buried with him.

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Sources

[1] "Ontario Births, 1869-1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FM8V-43B : accessed 15 December 2015), Martha Nix in entry for Thomas James Ackroyd, 1878. The record shows that Thomas James Ackroyd was born on June 12, 1878, in Toronto Gore Township, Peel County, Ontario, Canada and his parents were Joseph Ackroyd, a farmer, & Martha Nix.

[2] 1881 census, Ontario, 140 Peel, Chinguacousy Township, pg 33, household #146: Joseph Ackroyd (29), farmer; Martha (27); Elizabeth (7); Joseph (5); Thomas (3); Francis (11 months). (there is also a 20-yr old female servant in the household) All household members (except the servant) were born in Ontario. The religion of the family is C. Methodist.

[3] 1891 census, Ontario, 106 Peel, Chinguacousy Township, pg 22 , household #99: Joseph Ackroyd (40), farm labourer; Martha (38); Maratha (17); Thomas (12); Francais (10); Matthew (8). The record shows that the parents of both Joseph and Martha were born in England The family’s religion is Methodist.

[4] 1901 census, Ontario, 103 Peel, Chinguacousy Township, pg 1, household #3: Joseph Ackroyd (50), born 12 Feb 1851, Martha (47), born 23 May 1853; Joseph (25), born 7 Sept 1875, Thomas (22), born 12 June 1878, Francis (20), born 4 May 1880, Floid (18), born 27 March 1883, All residents of the household were born in Ontario; their religion is Methodist. All the men are shown as farm labourers and their annual earnings are shown as $140, $130, $135, $135, & $100.

[5] "Canada, Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSZN-S95 : Thu Mar 07 21:07:59 UTC 2024), Entry for Thomas James Ackroyd and Joseph Ackroyd, 24 Jan 1908. Thomas James Ackroyd (29) marries Alma Riches (21) in Brampton on Jan 24, 1908. Thomas lives in Grahamsville and was born in Woodhill. His parents are Joseph Ackroyd and Martha Nix. Thomas is a farmer and hie religion is Methodist. Alma was born in Brampton and lives in Brampton. She is a school teacher. Her parents are John Riches and Mary Ann Wilmontt. Her religion is Presbyterian.

[6] 1911 census, Ontario, 109 Peel, Chinguacousy Township, pg 8, household # [?88]: Joseph Ackroyd (60), born Feb 1851, laborer; Martha (58), born May 1853; Thomas (33), born June 1877, laborer; Alma (25), born March 1886 [this is the wife of Thomas (33).] All household members were born in Ontario. The religion appears to be Presbyterian (difficult to read). The annual earnings of Joseph and his son, Thomas, are difficult to read but appear to be $300 and $795.

[7] 1921 census, Ontario, Peel, Ching [Chinguacousy Township], pg 2, family #11: Joseph Ackroyd (70), labourer; Martha (68); Thomas (42), labourer; Alma (35), daughter-in-law [to Joseph, this is the wife of Thomas (42). All residents were born in Ontario. The parents of Martha were born in England. The family’s religion is Methodist. Joseph earns $280/yr and Thomas earns $525/yr.

[8] 1931 census, Ontario, Peel, Chinguacousy, pg 7, family #73  : Thomas Ackroyd (53); Alma (45); Martha (77), mother. There are 2 other people living in the house: Warren Demery (), a nephew; and Ada Wood (), a boarder. All residents were born in Ontario. The parents of Thomas were born in Ontario. The parents of Alma and Martha were born in England. All residents go to the United Church. The occupation of Thomas is difficult to read. Something has been written and then crossed out. It is possible the word “laborer” has been written on top of this.

[9] Brampton Cemetery headstone: Thomas Ackroyd 1878-1958 / h.w. Alma Riches 1886-1960

Acknowledgements

Fred Nix wrote this biography in 2015 with major updates in April 2024. Fred and Thomas are fist cousins, twice removed.