Part 1...To America
Robert W. Graham was called one of Lowell’s “most prominent, successful businessmen.” It was said that he was a “substantial man of Lowell, always interested in everything pertaining to its welfare, its progress and upbuilding, and was widely known as a public spirited and loyal citizen of his adopted country.”
Robert William Graham was born on July 20, 1828, with his twin brother Joseph in Lancashire England. The boys were raised by their mother, Cathrine and stepfather, William Proctor. In time, half siblings Ann, William, Sarah, Henry and John Proctor were added to the family.
Life in England was very difficult during this time. To survive, many went from one low paying job to another and from village to village to find work. Transportation was by horse and cart or on foot. Potatoes were grown for food, but other food was difficult to obtain for large families. Children were sent to live as servants or apprentices to other more affluent families when as young as nine years old. They often made loans to other family members for necessities. Cathrine and her brother William Kidd Graham shared the support of their aged father. He lived part of the year with each family, and they also sent clothing and money of support throughout the year though they struggled to feed their own families.
Cathrine Graham Proctor’s brother William Kidd Graham kept a journal that gives an inside peek into the life of the family in England.
“May 6, 1846, William Proctor and wife are here from Bentham. They brought their daughter Ann with them, intending her to stay with us about eight or ten weeks in order to go to school to learn sewing. They gave us three lbs of butter, about five lbs of bacon and other items as renumeration for her maintenance.
June 14, 1846, Sister Catherine’s sons Robert and Joseph came here this morning from Bentham. They brought some more articles for their sister Ann to make shirts, etc. Sister Catherine sent 1 L. (British pound) towards her daughter’s maintenance during her stay.
July 12, 1846, Wm Proctor’s stepson Robert came to Warton with a cart in order to fetch his sister Ann who has been staying here 8 weeks. Wife and family returned with him intending to stay a week at Bentham…Son Henry went back with them on purpose to assist the William Proctor’s in making hay.”
In 1850, Robert became the first in the family to immigrate to the United States. He entered through New York, then went to Detroit. He was only 21 years old. He worked in Wayne County before moving to Lowell in 1853. This is the same year his family immigrated to Lowell Township. This included his stepfather, William Proctor, mother Cathrine Graham, twin brother Joseph and his wife Frances, and half siblings Ann, William, Sarah, Henry and John Proctor.
Through William Kidd Graham’s journal, we see the good-byes between he and his sister and brother-in-law, Cathrine and William Proctor,
“March 26, 1853, William Proctor and wife came here this evening. Their object in coming to our house was to pay us a farewell visit before their departure for America. They intended starting for America the 7th of April. We shook hands and bid each other farewell…we parted in good will, hoping at some period to see each other again…William promised to write when they set sail…and again after they had been in America about four or five months. Their son Robert has been in America about three years and has saved about 70L and it is through this inducement that they are going.” (70 British pounds was the equivalent of about $343.00 in U.S. money.)
Cathrine and her brother parted, not knowing if they would ever see each other again. William Kidd Graham also dreamed of the opportunities in America, but at the time he had no plan and no money.
The journal continued, “April 13, 1853, William Proctor and family set sail from Liverpool today. The charges for passage were 39 pounds, 4 shillings and 10 pence for six adults and 4 pounds for each of the three children, ages 10, 12, and 14.”
Next week’s article will explore what happened when the family got to Lowell.
Images:
Painting of Robert William Graham on display in the Lowell Area Historical Museum.
Cathrine and William Proctor later in life.
Robert, Cathrine, Miles and Joseph Graham. Miles was the son of Joseph Graham.
William Kidd Graham with some of his children. Back Row: Margaret Graham Dillenbeck, Sarah Graham Behler
Front Row: William B. Graham, William Kidd Graham, Walter Graham
Robert William Graham was born on July 20, 1828, with his twin brother Joseph in Lancashire England. The boys were raised by their mother, Cathrine and stepfather, William Proctor. In time, half siblings Ann, William, Sarah, Henry and John Proctor were added to the family.
Life in England was very difficult during this time. To survive, many went from one low paying job to another and from village to village to find work. Transportation was by horse and cart or on foot. Potatoes were grown for food, but other food was difficult to obtain for large families. Children were sent to live as servants or apprentices to other more affluent families when as young as nine years old. They often made loans to other family members for necessities. Cathrine and her brother William Kidd Graham shared the support of their aged father. He lived part of the year with each family, and they also sent clothing and money of support throughout the year though they struggled to feed their own families.
Cathrine Graham Proctor’s brother William Kidd Graham kept a journal that gives an inside peek into the life of the family in England.
“May 6, 1846, William Proctor and wife are here from Bentham. They brought their daughter Ann with them, intending her to stay with us about eight or ten weeks in order to go to school to learn sewing. They gave us three lbs of butter, about five lbs of bacon and other items as renumeration for her maintenance.
June 14, 1846, Sister Catherine’s sons Robert and Joseph came here this morning from Bentham. They brought some more articles for their sister Ann to make shirts, etc. Sister Catherine sent 1 L. (British pound) towards her daughter’s maintenance during her stay.
July 12, 1846, Wm Proctor’s stepson Robert came to Warton with a cart in order to fetch his sister Ann who has been staying here 8 weeks. Wife and family returned with him intending to stay a week at Bentham…Son Henry went back with them on purpose to assist the William Proctor’s in making hay.”
In 1850, Robert became the first in the family to immigrate to the United States. He entered through New York, then went to Detroit. He was only 21 years old. He worked in Wayne County before moving to Lowell in 1853. This is the same year his family immigrated to Lowell Township. This included his stepfather, William Proctor, mother Cathrine Graham, twin brother Joseph and his wife Frances, and half siblings Ann, William, Sarah, Henry and John Proctor.
Through William Kidd Graham’s journal, we see the good-byes between he and his sister and brother-in-law, Cathrine and William Proctor,
“March 26, 1853, William Proctor and wife came here this evening. Their object in coming to our house was to pay us a farewell visit before their departure for America. They intended starting for America the 7th of April. We shook hands and bid each other farewell…we parted in good will, hoping at some period to see each other again…William promised to write when they set sail…and again after they had been in America about four or five months. Their son Robert has been in America about three years and has saved about 70L and it is through this inducement that they are going.” (70 British pounds was the equivalent of about $343.00 in U.S. money.)
Cathrine and her brother parted, not knowing if they would ever see each other again. William Kidd Graham also dreamed of the opportunities in America, but at the time he had no plan and no money.
The journal continued, “April 13, 1853, William Proctor and family set sail from Liverpool today. The charges for passage were 39 pounds, 4 shillings and 10 pence for six adults and 4 pounds for each of the three children, ages 10, 12, and 14.”
Next week’s article will explore what happened when the family got to Lowell.
Images:
Painting of Robert William Graham on display in the Lowell Area Historical Museum.
Cathrine and William Proctor later in life.
Robert, Cathrine, Miles and Joseph Graham. Miles was the son of Joseph Graham.
William Kidd Graham with some of his children. Back Row: Margaret Graham Dillenbeck, Sarah Graham Behler
Front Row: William B. Graham, William Kidd Graham, Walter Graham
