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Record #3541
Name :
: Walter William LAYFIELD (1895 - )


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 14 Jul 1895

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Lancashire, Handforth
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 12 Apr 1907
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Tunisian

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: MacPherson Homes
NotesA death registration was found for William Layfield, aged 45 years, in the September Quarter of 1899; Manchester; Vol. 8d; Page 270.

Creed register M327/2/2/22 states that Harriet Layfield (Church of England) was admitted from Hulme to Withington Workhouse on June 13, 1900 along with three children: William, 9, Walter, 4, and Annie, 2. The boys were discharged on 26 Jun 1900 and Annie died on November 20 1900 (possibly from a fall from a rocking horse). There is no indication of a discharge or death for Harriet.

In 1901, Walter Leyfield, 5 years of age, and his brother, William Leyfield, 10 years of age, were residing at Chorlton Union Cottage Homes, Styal, Cheshire, England. (Source: 1901 Census of England; Class: RG13; Piece: 3320; Folio: 28; Page: 7.)

In 1901, the boys' mother, Harriet Layfield, widow, 38, school teacher (born in Ripon, Yorkshire) was residing at the Chorlton Union Workhouse (Source: 1901 Census of England; RG13/3673 folio 164 pg 31.)

(EDITORS NOTE: In 1895 the Chorlton Union purchased a 190 acre estate in Styal, Cheshire. Here they built cottage homes for children in care. There were about 27 cottages including a couple of nurseries each housing between 13 and 28 children. The estate also included a senior school for more than 350 children, workshops, a laundry, a 16 bed hospital, a church, a swimming baths and the remaining 140 acres was farmed. The children did not wear uniforms and therefore could mix with other village children without being noticed. That covers the period up to about 1908.Styal Cottage Homes continued to operate until the 60's, after this it was used to house women prisoners.)

The boys were admitted to the MacPherson Homes in March 1907--just 3 weeks prior to their being shipped off to Canada. With reference to their mother, Harriet, her whereabouts were unknown.

In 1907, Walter Leighfield, 10 (along with his brother William Leighfield, 15) arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, with a group of 48 children accompanied by Rev. Robert Wallace and en route to Belleville, Ontario, Canada.

In 1911, Walter Layfield, 15, is shown as a domestic / laborer for Henry H. McQuade and family in Emily, Victoria-Haliburton , Ontario, Canada. His date of birth is shown as July 1896 and his immigration year as 1907.

From the Chorlton Union Register of Children (M4/60/2):

Particulars re parents: 'Deserted. Mother Harriet Leighfield, widow'
Township chargeable: 'R.O.'
Prior chargeable: Styal Cottage Homes'
Date of discharge from school: 13 Mar 1907
Society responsible: Manchester and Salford Boys' and Girls' Refuges
Sailing: 4 Apr 1907
Destination: Ontario

Walter:
Born 1897
Employer: Mrs D Hunter, Canan, Ontario
Employer: W Sandford, Eldorado
Employer: J H H McQuade, Omernce P. B. Ontario
Employer: Matthews Laing Co., Pork Packers, Peterborough, Ontario

Reports: one poor, 5 good and 3 bad reports, including one dated 10 May 1911: 'boy troublesome and untruthful' (McQuade), and one dated 26 Aug 1912: 'address not known', and two special reports dated 22 May1912 and 18 Feb 1914 but with no details

On May 26, 1917, Walter William Leighfield (alias Layfield) enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. He declared that he resided in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; that he was born in Handforth, Lancashire, England; that his next of kin was his brother, William Leighfield, who resided in Fraserville, Ontario, Canada; that his date of birth was July 14, 1895; that he was a farmer; and that he was not married. He was described as 5 foot 4 inches in height; fair complexion; bluish gray eyes; and light brown hair. He was a member of the Presbyterian faith.

On July 26, 1922, Walter W. Layfield, 24, entered the United States through Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He declared that he was single; that he was a salesman; that his last permanent address was at Niagra on the Lake, Ontario, Canada; that his contact in Canada was his brother, William A., who resided in Timmons, Ontario, Canada; that his destination was Lewiston, New York; that he carried $45 with him; that he had resided in the United States from 1907-1914 and since July 22, 1922; that he intended to reside in the US permanently; that he was 5 foot 6 inches in height; brown hair and brown eyes; that he was born in Mancester, England; and that he had immigrated through Halifax in April of 1907. 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-04-02 18:06:41 / From original database

Last Updated : 2009-01-24 15:55:43 /

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IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
3541 LAYFIELD, Walter William1895ENG, LAN, Handforth Apr 1907 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes