Memorial Posting by Great Great Grandson.

Daughter of William Backhouse and Hannah Rebecca McMichael.
Granddaughter of John H. Backhouse and Margaret Longbottom.

Amelia Eaton Backhouse is buried with her husband James D. Willard under a single headstone in the Newkirk Cemetery that is on the Walsingham side of St. Williams, and located north of Queen St., or County Road 42.

Amelia Eaton Backhouse is a daughter of William and Hannah (McMichael) Backhouse, born in Walsingham Township, Norfolk County, Upper Canada on 4 May 1826, died in South Walsingham Township on 31 Jan 1911.
She married in Vittoria, Charlotteville Township on 10 Apr 1850,2 James Dippery Willard (son of James Dippery and Ann (Ade) Willard), born in Eastbourne, Sussex, England on 11 Aug 1812, died in 1862.7 They were buried in Newkirk Cemetery, St. Williams, Walsingham Township

James Willard operated a store in the village of St. Williams, Walsingham Township.
In the 1850 Assessment of Walsingham Township, James Willard was listed singly. In the northeast corner of Lot 24, Concession 2, he had a ¼ acre home lot, with a store and 1 milch cow all valued at £203.5sh.3
In the 1852 Census of Walsingham Township, James D. Willard was listed as a merchant, born in England, Church of England, 42 with his wife Amelia, born in Upper Canada, Methodist, 26 and son James R., born in Upper Canada, Church of England.
In the 1861 Census of Walsingham Township, James D. Willard was listed as a merchant at Port Rowan, born in England, 52 with his wife Amelia E. 36 and children James R. 11, Joseph C. 8, Catharine S. 5 and Amelia 2, all born in Canada West. All were Wesleyan Methodist. They lived in a 1-1/2 storey frame house.5
In the 1871 Census of Walsingham Township Div. 1 p. 8, Amelia Willard was listed widowed 43 with her children James R. 20, Joseph C. 17, Catharine S. 14 and Annade 11. All were born in Ontario, English and Wesleyan Methodist.
Amelia Willard acquired 50 acres in the northernmost part of William Backhouse’s farm, Lot 23, Concession 1, Walsingham Township. She was named on the farm on the 1877 Historical Atlas map.6
In the 1881 Census of Walsingham Township, Amelia E. Willard was listed as a widow, born in Ontario 53, French, Canada Methodist. She was living with her son J. R. Willard.7
In the 1891 Census of South Walsingham Township East p. 22, Amelia Willard was listed widowed 64, Methodist. Her parents were reported born in England. She was living with her daughter Catherine and her husband Matthew Newman.8
Amelia Willard was recorded as a widow in the 1901 Census of South Walsingham Township with her daughter Catherine Newman. 9

Children:
- James Robert Willard, born in St. Williams, Walsingham Township on 6 Jan 1851, died in Bay City, Bay County, Michigan on 13 Jul 1938. He married in Walsingham Township on 30 Jun 1875, Laura Louise Fish (daughter of George W. and Eliza Ann Fish), born in Bowmanville, Durham County on 10 Jan 1854, died in Bay City on 19 Jun 1910. They were buried in Elm Lawn Cemetery, Bay City.
- John Nicholas Willard, born in St. Williams, Walsingham Township c. 1852. Apparently died young as he was not with his parents in the censuses.
- Joseph Calver Willard, born in St. Williams, Walsingham Township in Sep 1854. He married in Elba, Lapeer County, Michigan on 20 May 1855, Polly Treadway (daughter of Joseph and May (Reacer) Treadway), born in Elba on 2 Mar 1859, died in Elba on 8 May 1915. Polly was buried in Bird Cemetery, Elba.
- Catherine Susan Willard, born in St. Williams, Walsingham Township on 17 Nov 1856, died in Belle Plains, Saskatchewan on 7 May 1911. She married Mathew Henry Newman (son of George William and Harriet (Arnold) Newman), born on 5 Sep 1856, died in Belle Plains, Saskatchewan in 1912. See the Newman genealogy for the continuation.
- Ann Ade Willard, born in St. Williams, Walsingham Township on 2 Sep 1859, died in Leamington, Essex County on 30 Oct 1895. She married in St. Williams on 5 Sep 1877, William Henry Robert George Bristow (son of Alfred and Harriett (Nash) Bristow), born in Canada West on 25 Jun 1853, died in Walkerville, Essex County on 2 Apr 1913. They are buried together in Lakeview Cemetery, Leamington.