Introduction
Born: March 7, 1824, Chelmsford, Essex, England.
Died: March 31, 1908, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Buried: Hamilton Cemetery, Hamilton, Ontario.
Born: March 7, 1824, Chelmsford, Essex, England.
Died: March 31, 1908, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Buried: Hamilton Cemetery, Hamilton, Ontario.
Robert was the son of Charles Ambrose and Sophia Stoneham, and husband of Elizabeth (Lily) Boyle (married July 28, 1863). His father was the organist at Chelmsford Cathedral.
His family emigrated to Canada in 1837, but when they moved to Hamilton in 1845, Robert stayed behind on the farm in Guelph. Two years later, though, he joined his brother Charles Jr., a music teacher in Kingston.
Robert went on to become organist and choirmaster at St. George’s Church, and at Church of the Ascension in Hamilton, and taught at the Wesleyan Ladies College in Hamilton.
He composed some 80 songs, 14 part-songs and 25 instrumental pieces.