Orphan Willie Woods – Help Please.

[geniecolgan]

Hi Everyone 

I am trying to trace the family history of William Woods from a few facts and the childhood memories of an orphan as told to his son. The start of his story is very sad and there is little to go on so any help would be appreciated.

From Willie’s memories:-
He “came to Canada on a boat with his parents, his brother James and possibly a younger sister”.
He was “at his mother’s graveside funeral before he and his brother were given away by his father”
He was “picked out of a line-up at the orphanage by his adoptive father”.

Facts:-
Willie and his brother James were at the Loyal True Blue Orphanage, near Picton, Ontario.
James Woods was about two years younger than Willie and was never adopted.
In 1910 Willie Woods was sent by train with a label pinned to him saying he was Master Willie Woods, being sent to Mr. Henry Thistlethwaite, Norwood, Ontario.

He is on the 1911 census, living with the Thistlethwaites, as adopted son, Wilfred W. Wood, age 9.
His adoptive family renamed the lad Wilfred Ernest Thistlethwaite and he was raised as their natural son.
He died in his 90’s and was survived by his wife and children.

In 1964 when Willie was applying for his old age pension he contacted The Loyal True Blue & Orange home in Richmond Hill, Ontario to try and establish his proof of age.
According to their records:-
Registered as -  William Woods.
Date of Birth -  Jan 1 1901.
Place of Birth -  Wales.
Date of Admission to the Home – Sept 19 1907.
Former Residence – Nipigon, Ontario.
Father – Charles Woods, Nipigon, Ontario
Mother – Deceased.
Date of Discharge – Mar 19 1910.
Adopted by – Mr. Henry Thistlethwaite, Norwood, Ontario.

All leads welcomed.
Thanks,
Genie

[Shirley Sweetland]

Hi Genie on www.freebmd.org.uk there is a birth at Newport (Wales) in the March Qtr 1901 that might just be him, with these details you can purchase the certificate.. Also he should be on the 1901 census, if you can get someone to do a look-up for you.

Happy Hunting
Shirley

[KarenM]

HI Genie,

So, perhaps we should be looking for a death of a female Woods in the Nipigon area in 1907.

There is quite a distance between Nipigon and Picton 

Do they know what happened to the brother James at all?

Karen

[atth2o]

Hi Genie,

This may be a tough one with the limited information about the parents.

Nipigon is in the Thunder Bay District.  As Karen said, this is a fair distance from Picton.  There are a few Charles WOODS living there in 1911.  Probably the most interesting is one living with his brother John and family.  Still no conformation that this is him.

I searched for a death of a female WOODS in the area of Thunder Bay / Rainy River, still nothing seemed to fit.

Back in Wales, I searched for two brothers born in the same area that may fit.  I came up with this:

James Woods 1902 Apr-Jun    Merthyr Tydfil  Breconshire, Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan   
William Woods 1900 Jan-Mar    Merthyr Tydfil  Breconshire, Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan

When going to the 1901 Wales Census, the parents names were John & Johanna.  Still no fit?

James WOODS went on to marry on 4 Dec 1922 to Maudie Garton in York.  Sadly, he could not list his parents.

I imagine you alreadly have Wilfreds marriage on  9 Feb 1923 in Peterborough to Alberta Kelly.  If not, let me know and I will pass on the info.

If you can add any further information to the puzzle, that may help.  I searched the passender lists and could not find any WOODS with a Charles, James and William listed together.  Any chance the father used a middle name?

Hope that hepls in some way,

Nancy

[KarenM]

Shoot, Archives Canada is down for the day 

Karen

[geniecolgan]

Hello you lovely people 

I'm doing this for my friend, the son of Willie and I've checked with him for any additional background but there is nothing he can add except that Willie & James did stay in contact.

James was placed with the Thistlethwaites sometime after Willie but he ran away. Then he went back to the orphanage until he was of age to be independent.

Hi Shirley,

 thanks for the BMD ref. I have looked and found 4 possible Welsh Williams in the time frame so we are not ready to buy a cert. yet 



Hi Karen,

Yeah, I wondered about Nipigon myself  .... it's a long way from Picton. In fact in those days I don't think there was much around Nipigon at all. Why would a man take his wife and children there
It crossed my mind that the boys were sent to Picton because that was where there was space for the kids at that time 

Finding the death reg. of the mother would be a great help.
Perhaps they were on their way out west and she got ill and died  ..... or.... from what Nancy has found.... it may be that Charles had family in that area.

Tis a great puzzle 



Hi Nancy 

thanks for the info on the marriages. I didn't have them and they add nicely to the picture. Yes please  ...... send me the details you found.The rest of it is  tough indeed



If we could just find them on a boat or find the mother's death we'd have something to work on.

I'm going to copy this and go over it with Willie's son.


Thanks very much guys. You're great 

Genie

[atth2o]

Hi Genie,

Here's the marriage info:

James Woods
Born: On   (??) 
Age: 20 
Father: Woods
Mother: Woods

Spouse: Maudie Garton
Age: 20 
Birth Place: England 
Father: George Brooks
Mother: Beatrice Garton

Marriage: 4 Dec 1922
Place: York 
County: York

***** Did you have the Brides name prior to today as the birth location does not match? 
___________________________
 
Wilfred E Thistlethwaite
Born: England 
Age: 22 
Father: Henry A Thistlethwaite
Mother: Amelia Jane Lobb

Spouse: Alberta Kelly
Age: 17 
Born: Ontario 
Father: Frank Kelly
Mother: Sarah Derbyshire

Marriage: 9 Feb 1923
Place: Peterborough 
County: Peterborough 
District: Peterboro

Hope that helps,
Nancy 

[geniecolgan]

Hi Nancy,

Good stuff 

The marriage info helps because it shows that James was about 2 years younger than Willie.

I didn't have the brides names and I will run through all this with Roger, Willie's son, ASAP to make sure we have the right ones.

Just wish we could find their mum's death. That might confirm that the orphanage info was correct if she died in the Nipigon area.


Can anyone tell me what there was in and around Nipigon 1905 - 1907, other than a railway stop 

It still boggles my mind to think of those poor kids being shipped about like that.

Any more input welcome and thanks again.

Genie 

[KarenM]

Can anyone tell me what there was in and around Nipigon 1905 - 1907, other than a railway stop 

Not even a Tim Horton's, how barbaric 

Karen