HOME      FORUM      HELP      SEARCH      
News : The Surname Interests Table (SIT), the Database for Special Interests Groups (DBSIG) and Ancestral Anniversaries
are now "mobile friendlier" more here ...
The RootsChat Reference Library

RootsChat.Com »  RootsChat Reference Library »   Database for Special Interest Groups (DBSIG) »   British Home Children : Quick Search

Record #3552
Name :
: Ella Mary MASON (1895 - 1971)


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 6 Sep 1895

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: May 1971
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Cheshire, Chester
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialUnited States of America
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 6 Oct 1902
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Colonian

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesThis is a complicated and complex family situation:

Father: John George Williams a/k/a George John Mason a/k/a George Wrench Mason. (Parents names: William Wrench & Mary Mason.)

John George Williams married Mary Emma Bright on February 12 1878 in Devonport, Devon, England.

A birth registration was found for Ella Mary Mason; Year of Registration: 1895; Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec; District: Chester; County: Cheshire, Flintshire; Volume: 8a; Page: 376.

In 1891, George Mason, 46, store keeper for factory, and his wife, Mary E. Mason, 36, were residing at 33 Cross Street, Chester Castle, Chester, Cheshire, England, with their children Arthur Mason, 3; Albert Mason, 6; Eliza A. Mason, 5; Florence B. Mason, 7/12; George Mason, 46, Jno H. Mason, 8; and Willm Mason, 10. (Source: 1891 Census of England; Class: RG12; Piece: 2862; Folio 61; Page 40; GSU roll: 6097972.) (EDITORS NOTE: Eliza Mason is shown as being born in County Cork, Ireland, in this census.)

A death registration was found for Mary Ellen Mason; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1854; Year of Registration: 1898; Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec; Age at Death: 44; District: Chester; County: Cheshire, Flintshire; Volume: 8a; Page: 258.

Doris Hefkey found the following newspaper article reporting the inquest into the death of Mary Emma Williams in a metal box th at belonged to her Dad:

"Sudden Death of Chester Woman (headline)

Mr. Frank Turner, Death Coroner, held an inquest at the Chester Sheaf, on Thursday afternoon, touching the death of Mary Emma Williams, wife of George John Williams [EDITORS NOTE: Reversal of given names and Williams as surname], army pensioner, of 33 Cross St., Chester. The evidence adduced was to the effect that deceased who was 44 years of age, was employed at Spencer's Clothing Factory, in Northgate St. On Wednesday afternoon, while she was at work, she suddenly fell back into a companion's arms and became unconscious. Dr. Parry was sent for and he discovered the symptoms of an apoplectic seizure. As deceased did not get any better he advised her removal home. Here Dr. Gillen was called in, but death occured the same night.

Deceased was a weakly woman, but had not been complaining of ill health. A verdict to the effect that deceased died from apoplexy was returned."

Doris Hefkey notes that her medical dictionary indicates an "apoplectic seizure" is another way of saying she had a stroke.

A few days after the death of their mother, the eldest brother, George Wrench Williams, must have written a letter to one of his aunts in the USA. The following is the text of the reply from his aunt Emily, possibly the second wife of their mother's brother:

"Warren, Jan. 12, 1899

My Dear Nephew,

Your letter of the 29 reached here just 12 days after it was Posted, and we were very sorry indeed to learn of your sad Bereavement, in the loss of your beloved Mother, and coming so sudden and unexpectedly to you makes it very hard, I often thought of your dear Mother although I am a stranger in the family, and wished you lived where we might help you, as one might have done in so many ways had you been nearer, with your growing children, and ours grown.

We could have helped clothed your sisters and younger brothers without much expense, and taken a great large a family, but as it was we could not do much, one that has large families of their own can't always have money to send, for money does not grow on bushes here, as one Irishman made another believe, that all he had to do, if he came to America was to pick the money from the bushes like fruit, but people work very hard here for what they have but wages are better here I think than in England.

And now my dear boy, my heart goes out to you to night for I realize what a responsibility is resting on your young shoulders being the eldest of so many Brothers and sisters, and I would like you to write by return mail and tell me how many children there are, how many girls, and their ages, the age of the youngest child, and whether a boy or girl the name and age of your eldest sister, and our Lizzie when at your house said you had an Aunt that had been very kind to you all, when you were burned out that time. If she is there now will you ask her to write me and tell me what she thinks might be done for your dear sisters, they ought to be in school, and I do hope you and your other Brothers will be very kind to them for the dear Mother sake, and your friends will try and do what they can for you.
...
From your Aunt Emily"

John George William (aka George John Mason) died July 6, 1899, in Chester, Cheshire, England.

In 1902, Ella Mary Mason, 10 (along with her sister, Florence Mason, 12), arrived in Portland, Maine, USA, with a group of 125 girls en route to Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

Violet Maskell obtained the following information from Barnardos:

"When Florence Beatrice and Ella Mary were admitted to Dr. Barnardos on the 22nd September, 1899 it is recorded that Florence had been born on the 3rd September, 1890 and Ella had been born on the 6th September, 1895, both in Chester and they had been baptised.

When Ella and Florence were admitted to Barnardos they stayed at our Girls Village Home here at Barkingside, were boarded out for a time at Denver, returning to the Village, prior to sailing to Canada on the 25th September, 1902 on the S.S. Colonian arriving in Portland on the 6th October that year. There were 133 girls and 169 boys in that party, making a total of 302 children.

When Ella arrived in Canada she went to a Mrs. Drinkwater at Castleton, Ontario and then to a Mrs. Cudney at Valens. She too, was in communication with her brothers and sister, though her health was delicate. In 1911 it is recorded that her elder sister who had come to Canada two years previously was in hospital in Pennsylvania. It is believed in 1912 she went to her married sister, Eliza Bond at Rickwood, Ontario."

The correct date was 1913 when she went to live with her sister in Richwood, Ontario, Canada.

On her brother Fred's Orange Lodge Membership Certificate Ella is listed as "Ella M. Cudney" as a beneficiary. It is thought that she was "adopted" by the Cudneys.

Ella Mary Mason married James Samuel Westbrook. They had one child, James David WESTBROOK.

James Westbrook died February 19, 1952 and Ella Mary Mason Westbrook died in May 1971, both in the United States. 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-04-05 16:16:31 / From original database

Last Updated : 2009-01-31 13:21:00 /

Family History ResearchersRootsChatters with family connections to Ella Mary MASON:



 
Readers Comments

Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  7 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
12693 CHEADLE, Cecilia Agnes1909ENG,    , Chester Apr 1924 : - Unknown - CAN Sailing Alone  
10666 GERAGHTY, Peter1871ENG,    , Chester Jul 1882 : Peruvian CAN Lord Archibald Douglas  
12515 LIGHTWOOD, George1887ENG, CHS, Chester Oct 1897 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
3551 MASON, Arthur1888ENG, CHS, Chester Jul 1901 : Numidian CAN Barnardos  
3552 MASON, Ella Mary1895ENG, CHS, Chester Oct 1902 : Colonian CAN Barnardos  
3550 MASON, Florence Beatrice1890ENG, CHS, Chester Oct 1902 : Colonian CAN Barnardos  
3547 MASON, Frederick1893ENG, CHS, Chester Apr 1900 : Cambroman CAN Barnardos