Armless Abraham:

I am sure many of you will recognise this iconic photograph of an armless man called ‘Armless Abraham’ collecting wood with his goat cart. I have just been contacted by the Great Granddaughter of Thomas Abraham and this is what she tells me:-

HISTORY OF THOMAS ABRAHAM

Thomas Abraham was my Great Grandfather (Lynne McMeekin). I am Bruce McMeekin’s wife. 
He was born on 11th May 1848 in Warleggan, Cornwall, England and died 29th July 1912 in Boulder Western Australia. His first wife was Mary Poland who was born on 20 February 1843 in Maryport, Cumberland, England and died 22nd November 1877 at Moonta Mines, South Australia. They married on 7 September 1868 in Cockermouth, Cumberland, England and had 6 children. They came to Australia on the ship Forfarshire in September 1877 and landed in South Australia. Mary died in childbirth on 22 November 1877 at Moonta Mines, South Australia. They had six children before Mary died in childbirth on 22 November 1877.

Thomas was a copper miner in Moonta, SA  Thomas then married Susan Jane Quintrell 17 Jun 1878 he married Susan Jane Quintrell in Moonta SA. She is buried along with her husband in the old Boulder Cemetery. She arrived in Australia on the ship Astralan on 26 July 1876. They had 12 children, the youngest girl of which was my Grandmother Emily Abraham. At age 48 she gave birth to a son William Abraham in 1896 at Broken Hill, New South Wales.
I am not sure how my Great Grandfather lost his arms but I was told by my Grandmother that the older girls in the family used to get him ready to gather sandalwood with his goats. Any income from this was used to keep the family going.
My Grandmother Emily Abraham married William Harold Hooks on 12 August 1914 in Boulder WA.

The cause of the accident:- The Enquirer and Commercial News, 13 July, 1900.

Sarah and Thomas ABRAHAM – Boulder Cemetery

The following two tabs change content below.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

Latest posts by Moya Sharp (see all)

• Blood on the Mulga Plains: The Last Day of John Sutherland - 28/02/2026
• A Brother’s Return in Mourning: Tragedy on the Coolgardie Goldfields - 28/02/2026
• The Contract at Old Warden Shaft - 28/02/2026