Thomas Dunham-New Orelans-Sailor
Thomas Dunham (born 1836) was born in E. Gwillumsbury Twp., York Co., Ontario to Elijah Dunham (1810-1893) and Anna Maria Briggs (1813-1899)(they had seven other children; Elizabeth Ann (1833-1862), Robert (1838-1917), William (1840-1905), Jonathan B. (1843-1925), Walter G. (1845-1860), J. Wilmot (1848-1932) and Martha W. (1856-1926)). As a young boy, perhaps at the age of 15 Thomas ran away to sea. He wrote home on occasion (six of his letters survive). He travelled to England and the East. He sent two photographs home to his parents, one of his wife (who he did not name) and himself, both which bear the photographer's mark of New Orleans.His letters stopped abruptly in about 1866 and his family never heard from him again, fearing the worst. His disapearance became the subject of subsequent family corespondance as they tried, in vain, to find out what became of him. One ambigious source indicated that he might have had two daughters. Any help would be appreciated.