Home Children:Brookes/Brooks

[Tony55]

Karen,dollylee,J.J. and Georgina,
    Thank you all for your efforts and comments, i realy wouldn't know where to start with this so your help is greatly appreciated. 

    As soon as i recieve any info via e-mail i'll let you know of any results i get.
 
    Thanks all once again, best wishes, Tony

   

[KarenM]

Ok, a very kind rootschatter has gone to Library and Archives Canada to look up the information on that microfilm.....

Thomas Brookes was first placed with the family of Hugh MacKinnon in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia where he was treated very good and givven an exemplanry reputation. He was there for 7 years, then went to the Stubbert residence in Cape Breton.

It's a very bad copy, but I think this is Thomas on the 1911 census

http://www.automatedgenealogy.com/census11/SplitView.jsp?id=72305

Karen

[liverpool annie]

Oh nice job Karen !! 

[KarenM]

I think this is Thomas' marriage to Katharine MacPhee in 1924.  He lists his father as Thomas, Emma as mother, but he has his birthplace as Cornwall, Wales   

https://www.novascotiagenealogy.com/ItemView.aspx?ImageFile=28-858&Event=marriage&ID=158955

K

[liverpool annie]

2009 is going to be the Year of the British Home Child  ..... apparently a new database is set to start 1st February ..... Australia as well as Canada !

http://www.britishhomechildren.org/index.php?limitstart=27

Annie 

[KarenM]

Now, as for George,    he was indebtured to Angus McSween, Dutch Brook, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.  

Note from a visit by Frank Gerow "visited this boy at school.  He says he is well pleased with his home.  Saw Mr. McSween on the road, he gives the boy a good reputation"

Looks like George was with Mr. McSween from 1905 to 1914.

In a letter dated 16.1.25 he writes he needs his birth certificate as he is leaving for the states.  He suggests his father is Thomas Brookes or Brown of Shrewsbury.  He also mentions his brothers Tommie and Ernest.  Letter was sent to Chief Constable.

In 1925 his address is Little Bras D'or, Cape Breton *

No birth certificate registered in Sommerset House in England

George thinks he was born December 25, 1894

* this is where Thomas was when he married Katharine that's why I think it might be him and he just dosn't know his information.

K

[liverpool annie]

Can I ask a question ?? .... why are they all Mac/Mc's ??

There's loads of McKinnons McPhees in Cape Breton !! etc

[KarenM]

Ernest didn't fair to well where he was placed with C.H. Musgrove a detective in Sydney Nova Scotia.

A vist Mr. Gerow states that the boy had complained of scolding.  It looks like Ernest has been there from 1905 to 1910.

A letter dated 1931 "according to our books Ernest was born on the 14th of November 1897 probably in Birmingham and his father is Thomas Brookes

Dec. 6, 1912, George King writes....

"Was formerly with C.H. Musgrove, Sydney, but ran away.  It was a very poor home.  I followed him through many positions, errand boy, furnance stoker, labourer on cement buildings, road repairer, laying concrete sidewalks etc.  Usually he left cause he was unable to stand the work.  Report says he was a stead worker but a pretty rough boy.  I was unable to get into the steelworks to see him"

From 1912 to 1915 his address seems to be c/o Dominion Iron & Steel Co., Whitney Pier, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Karen

[Miss Trees]

Well done Karen!