Refuge Farm School, Bisley - 1870

[issyb2010]

Hi

I have found that a relative was sent to the Refuge Farm School in Bisley in 1871 - I know this school was for homeless and destitute children but I am not as to why he was sent there?  I know his father died in 1870 but his mother was still alive with 3 children so why did she 'farm' him off an not the other children?  In 1881 he is in the Army, in 1891 he is married with children but he ran away in 1894 to Chicago where I found him married (to someone else!) in 1900, nothing for 1911 the again in 1921 ... single!  No sign of this mysterious woman - there is no marriage record or whatever happened to her.  Now I cannot find him anywhere in the US - no death, no further census?!  The information he kept given was a little, say we shall a long way from the truth!  Does anyone know if there are any admission records for the School or any other insight to this place?  Not sure if he was a problem child, he certainly was as an adult!  Who paid for these children to attend?  Sorry lots of questions?

[rosie99]

Do you mean Bisley, Surrey 
http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/BisleySH/

Maybe if you give us his name, place & date of birth and any other information you can about him and his parents prior going to Bisley we can help.

[iluleah]

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~engsurry/bisley/index.htm

"Bisley Farm School for Boys, 1868. ... boys from the London Refuge came in groups of 25 to spend a week's holiday at Bisley" http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/SH/away.shtml

[issyb2010]

OK - Bruce McInnes b. 1857, St Luke's London.  His parents are John & Mary Ann McInnes (nee Carter).  I know quite a bit about him, except why he was sent to Bisley.  I did find the website about the school, but it doesn't really tell me much.

[iluleah]

1900 census Migrated 1893 so you should find passenger ship lists for that and married 1884  to Agnes also from England, says his father was Scottish, mother English https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6W33-7LB?cc=1325221&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMSSK-YP7

Naturalisation https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPQ7-3G4V?personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXKG6-VYQ

1920 census claims to be single https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GR6X-853?i=17&cc=1488411&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMJSN-6RS

[iluleah]

Potential death 12 Mar 1922 Buffalo, Erie, New York
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSG8-1THW?cc=2803479&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQGKK-J92W

[Maiden Stone]

OK - Bruce McInnes b. 1857, St Luke's London.  His parents are John & Mary Ann McInnes (nee Carter).  I know quite a bit about him, except why he was sent to Bisley.  I did find the website about the school, but it doesn't really tell me much.

He would have been sent there to learn a trade so that he could earn his living. He would have got free accommodation & food + perhaps clothes. He may have been at risk of falling into bad company at home. His mother may not have been able to discipline him. Was he the eldest child? 

[*Sandra*]

USA thread - https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=845886.msg7128999

[*Sandra*]

According to some comments left on USA records by a McInnes person (who I have messaged) - they indicate that Bruce McInnes a bus conductor died in 1894 and therefore he is not the person on USA records.

I have searched McInnes/MacInnes/Innes and just Bruce in England & Scotland but haven't come across a death record as suggested in 1894 - he would have been 37 years old.

Could someone else please check to see if I have missed something,  maybe the spelling is slightly off and I just haven't picked it up - this does seem rather odd to claim he died but no record.   

Thanks
Sandra

Added :- Mary Ann McInnes remarried 28 December 1895 St Matthew, St Marylebone, Westminster to Alfred John Rutt. Describes herself as a widow.

So does the McInnes person believe Percy died because Mary described herself as a widow on her remarriage ?

I only see one birth for a Bruce McInnes in 1857.............