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:-

Armless Abraham 1907 – Photo WA Museum

HISTORY OF THOMAS ABRAHAM

From Lynne McMeekan – Thomas Abraham was my Great Grandfather. I am married to Bruce McMeekin’s. 
Thomas was born on 11th May 1848 in Warleggan, Cornwall, England, and died on 29th July 1912 in Boulder Western Australia. he waqs the son of Robert Abraham and Sarah nee Harris. His first wife was Mary Poland was born on 20 February 1843 in Maryport, Cumberland, England, and died on 22nd November 1877 at Moonta Mines, South Australia. They had married on 7 September 1868 in Cockermouth, Cumberland, England, and had 6 children. They travelled to Australia on the ship Forfarshire in September 1877 and landed in South Australia. Mary died in childbirth the same year on 22 November 1877 at Moonta Mines, South Australia. 

Thomas, who was a copper miner in Moonta, South Australia then on the 17 Jun 1878 he married Susan Jane Quintrell in Moonta SA. She was born in Camborne, Cornwall, England on 21 Jan 1854 and died on 8th February 1907 in Boulder Western Australia, and is buried along with Thomas in the Boulder Cemetery. She arrived in Australia on the ship Astralan on 26 July 1876. Thomas and Susan had a further 12 children, the youngest girl of which was my Grandmother, Emily Abraham.

I was not sure how my Great Grandfather lost his arms but the following article explains the accident. 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

Kalgoorlie Miner 5 July 1900, page 4

Sarah and Thomas ABRAHAM – Boulder Cemetery – Photo Danelle Warnock

In Thomas’s two marriages he fathered 18 children so there must be a great number of descendants around today.

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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.

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