Where to start my search

[Draigcoch]

I have recently found out that my great grandfather had children who were in a children's home in Liverpool and were sent to Canada.

All I know is their names and dates of birth and the home they were in.

William McEwan b. 6th Dec 1904 West Derby Lancashire

David McEwan   b. 18th July 1908 West Derby Lancashire

They were in a Church of England Home for Waifs & Strays, how could they have been in a home like this as their father was still alive he was in France at the time.
They were still in this country as far as I can ascertain in 1916, their mother had died and there were 2 other younger siblings, who could possibly have been with a grandmother in Liverpool.

Any help would be most welcome.

[CaroleW]

Hi

Ancestors onboard has entries for a David B McEwan and a William McEwan leaving Liverpool for Canada (port docked is Halifax) in 1912.  No ages shown for either entry
www.ancestorsonboard.com

Some years back their was a lot of controversy about children in homes being sent to Canada as "orphans" although one or more parent was still living and I believe there is a website for "Home children" which you may find if you use Google

I can only theorise as to why they were in the home at all:

Mum ill and unable to cope
Child neglect

[hepburn]

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~britishhomechildren/

[KarenM]

There is a David McEwan age 16 who arrived in Canada March 29, 1925 from the Liverpool Sheltering Home aboard the Aurania.  He is headed to the Marchmount Home in Belleville, Ontario which was a distributing home once the children arrived in Canada.

Karen

[KarenM]

Ancestors onboard has entries for a David B McEwan and a William McEwan leaving Liverpool for Canada (port docked is Halifax) in 1912.  No ages shown for either entry
www.ancestorsonboard.com

That David is born 1880.

Karen

[AMBLY]

The David which Karen found appears to be the right one - he appears on this web page with correct birth date:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tweetybirdgenealogy/ssauraniamar1925.html

Cheers
AMBLY

[Draigcoch]

Thanks for the websites just looking through them, fascinating reading about the Home children.

Would love to know what became of David and William, they were 2 of 11 children, I have accounted for.

According to family there could be more, these were from 3 wives to one man.

Do they have death certs or obituary notices on line in Canada like they do in America?

Would have to find the right people first I know,  knew it wouldn't be that easy with this family.

[KarenM]

Here is a link to the Home Children Database at Library and Archives Canada

http://www.rootschat.com/links/06e9/

You can also check the Immigration Records 1925-1935 as that is where I found David.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/immigration-1925/index-e.html

Not knowing where he ended up will make the search a bit harder.  If he stayed in Ontario you can check the Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid site http://www.islandnet.com/ocfa/

There is obituary's on line for Ontario at www.ontarioobits.com  however, they are more recent.

You can contract the Marchmount Home and they may be able to tell you where he was placed which would give you an idea of where he ended up.

The Home Children story is a fascinating one, they say 1 in 10 Canadians is descended from one.  The sad thing is, is that most of them did not speak of it and therefore family members have no idea.


Karen

[lilybell]

Hello Draigcoch,

Check out the following website freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~britishhomechildren for David McEwan.

Mr Snow's father was a home child so he is quite kn owelegable on the subject.

Where are you located? I live in Canada . Please PM me as I would be glad help you with your search.