In Hamilton Ontario‘s west end the name Binkley has been ubiquitous for generations. Binkley Road, Binkley Crescent, Binkley Elementary School and Binkley United Church.
There was even Binkley Apartments on King Street West, now Sanders Blvd, before the McMaster Hospital was built and changed traffic flow. (In case you’ve ever wondered why Sanders Blvd and the nearby southern leg of the McMaster campus ring road seem unusually wide.)
While the school is long gone and the church shuttered pending redevelopment the eponymous streets endure as does long closed Binkley Cemetery.
That’s what it’s called in the City of Hamilton cemetery directory but it’s also noted as Marx Binkley Cemetery on the Hamilton Historic website and other sites like Google maps.
Marks Binkley was an early settler to the area.
Actually the grave marker does say Marks Binkley. Perhaps a 19th century stone carver’s allographic for Marx? Or a 21st century website data entry typo?
Last burial was in the 1940s.







If you go…
Binkley Cemetery is just beyond the north end of Lakelet Drive, Hamilton’s shortest street.
Close the gate when you leave.

Fun fact: When I was a kid one of the last of the Binkleys, Clifford Binkley, was still with us. A grandson or great grandson of an early settler I believe.
Mr. Binkley was quite elderly but a neighbourhood fixture taking his dog out for its daily walks or, perhaps more accurately, being pulled around the neighborhood by that very energetic dog!
Nearby in Dundas Ontario, maybe 700 metres west as the crow flies, you’ll find Binkley Hollow Cemetery.
Binkley Hollow according to the City of Hamilton directory, Henry Binkley Family Cemetery according to Google maps and the Historical Hamilton website.
The oldest burial is William Binkley. His marker has been standing for over 170 years.
However it was son Henry, having provided the land and (I’m assuming) doing the legal legwork, for whom the bone yard is named.
Last burial was in the 1970s.






If you go…
Binkley Hollow Cemetery is at the south end of Desjardins Avenue in Dundas, ON.
While sharing a name in common it seems these two branches of the Binkley family tree had somewhat different roots according to this Ontario Genealogical Society article.









