O.J. [Oliver John] Abbott, Home Child, singing "The Barley Grain For Me" with Pete Seeger, at the Newport Folk Festival, 1959-60: How/why did this English orphan from Paddington, London know so many of the old Irish tunes? Because when he was sent to Canada, as an 8- or 9-year old boy, he was placed with … Continue reading The Barley Grain For Me (O.J. Abbott and Pete Seeger)
How many Home Children have I come across in the 1891 and 1901 Canadian census returns, while searching for my ancestors and their collateral relations? 10? 15? 20? I've lost count. Many more than I had expected to find when I first began to pursue family history research.
Found in the household of John Rowan and his wife Emma Hogan (Emily Julia Hogan, daughter of John Hogan and Marcella Moran) in the 1891 census of Huntley township (Lanark North, Ontario): Jas. [James] Fitzpatrick, male, age 17, Dom. [Domestic], born England, father born England, mother born England, religion R.C. [Roman Catholic]. This is quite … Continue reading James Fitzpatrick: Home Child
"Could you look up Mary Hogan?" asked my dad's cousin Aggie. "I think she may have been," and this added sotto voce, as if, even after so many years, there might yet be something to hide, "a Home Girl."[1. Oral interview with Mary Frances Agnes O'Neill, January 2007.] A Home Girl? At the time, I … Continue reading Home Children: Open Secrets (Part 1)
In records pertaining to my McGlade-Dunne ancestors, who emigrated from Co. Armagh, Ireland to Counties Leeds and Lanark, Ontario, the name McCann turns up at several key points. For example, two of the children of John McGlade and Bridget Dunne had a McCann godparent: Michael James McGlade, born Perth, Ont. 28 Dec 1856, baptized 1 … Continue reading Bridget McCann: Friend or Relation?
Found in the household of Richard Tovey and his wife Catherine Gorman[1. Catherine Gorman was Richard Tovey's second wife. His first wife, who died in 1883 at the age of 37, was a Frances Ann McCann (daughter of Laurence McCann and Ann O'Reilly), who appears to be connected to my McGlade-Dunne ancestors, though I have … Continue reading Elizabeth Bowles: Home Child
Found in the household of James Quinn and his wife Mary Ann Vallely in the 1891 census of Lanark (Lanark North, Ontario, p. 33, family no. 140): Dickens, Lizzie, female, age 14, Orphan, Country of Birth Eng [England] Note the proximity of household 140 (above) of Lanark (Lanark North, Ontario) to household 144 (household of … Continue reading Lizzie Dickens (Dickinson?): Home Child
Found in the household of the widowed Michael Vallely in the 1891 census of Lanark (Ontario, Lanark North, p. 34, family no. 144): Dickison, Wm [William], male, age 16, Orphan, Country of Birth Eng [England] William Dickison's religion is listed here as R.C. (Roman Catholic) -- a potentially significant clue as to his parentage and … Continue reading William Dickison (Dickinson?): Home Child
