| Notes |
- I checked all the James Stafford's in the 1871 census and found only one likely candidate to be the father of Obadiah Stafford. In the 1871 census he is a bricklayer living in East York, which was east of Toronto. He is 58 years of age, born in England, Church of England. He lives with his wife, Susan, age 56, also of England; his son John, age 21, born in Ontario; and James Payne, age 58, a black labourer from the United States, who probably worked for James Stafford. All can read and write and have no infirmities.
I also found him in a directory. He was living in the village of Doncaster. That village was located just east of the Don River and would be very close to the present Danforth Avenue before it crosses the Don River in Toronto. He was there in the 1871 directory and also in the 1866 directory. He is not included in the 1861 census but is there in 1851 where he is listed as a labourer, born in England, age 39. The other members of the family include his wife, Susan, born in Ireland, age 38, and four children, all born in Canada. They include Fanny, age 14, Obadiah, age 12, Edwin, age ten, and John, age three. They all belong to the Church of England, and they live in a one-story, shanty house.
The name, James Stafford also occurs in unfortunate circumstances in the Toronto Herald on January 20, 1848. The newspaper reports that an inquest was held on the body of Mrs. Jane Wheeler who was beaten to death by her husband at James Stafford's below the Don Bridge. I don't have any other information about this incident but this is very likely our James Stafford. The life of a bricklayer was harsh and brutal in those days and was reflected in the life styles of these people.
By Jim Stafford, a descendant.
Census:
1871. Listed as James Stafford, a bricklayer, head of household. Church of England, Anglican.
1881. St. Patrick's Ward. Listed as James Stafford, a bricklayer (English) with wife Susannah (Irish). Both Church of England.
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Abt 1813 - 1887 (~ 74 years)
