Joseph Canham (1857-1939) - Woodcarver

Joseph Canham (Father of Josephine Decima Canham, grandfather of Josephine Teresa Magurn) worked as a bricklayer in Swanton Morley, Norfolk, England according to the 1891 census. He was later a gardener, carpenter, and contractor. He was appointed parish clerk and sexton after the death in January 1900 of the previous sexton who was married to Joseph's aunt Harriet Canham Hickleton. He most likely served in this capacity until his death 7 June 1939. The position of parish clerk paid a modest salary and would have allowed him time to have outside employment. Part of his duties would have included digging graves and ringing the church bell.

This photo shows his hobby of woodcarving. He is leaning on his extensively carved gate showing Lord Kitchener who gained fame serving in the Boer Wars. Joseph also carved the swirled posts on the porch in the background. The posts are still there but most of the other carvings are gone now.  

The Village Church, & the Canham headstone

Left: One of Joseph's carved fence posts on display now in Museum of Norfolk Life.

From Our Knickers Were Interesting - A Norfolk Village Childhood  by Daisy Rayner: "He [Joseph] was a gardener for Joseph Springall, the builder, who lived at Greengate House. While Joe was there he made a replica of Swanton Morley church. It was the wonder of everyone who passed. It stood on a mound of purple aubretia and was in the garden until the Springall family died and then it was sold. "

Daisy continues in her book, "Joe did wonderful things and the teen-age youths loved him for he taught them to ring the handbells. He put ships in bottles. He made a policeman which looked like life and when one stepped on a certain place on his path this policeman came to meet you. After a time he had to restrict this for people were afraid to go round to his house. They must have had a guilty conscience." 

From this account, and from viewing his carvings, it's safe to say that Joseph Canham had a wonderful sense of humor! His granddaughter Terry Forman (Josephine Teresa Magurn) recalls him being a big tease. His grandchildren adored him - they called him GranJo.  

If you were to google Joseph Canham, you will find this great photo of GranJo with another model he built. This one is of the Swanton Morley postmill that ground the wheat for the community.

Joseph Canham & postmill model-1936

The Swanton Morley postmill - 1890

This is an updated story originally posted in Memories at Family Search.org 14 Jan 2018