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Record #3995
Name :
: William John BRADLEY (1911 - 1988)
  aka : Bill


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 14 Apr 1911

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 27 May 1988
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Middlesex, Leytonstone, Leyton, London

13 Union Rd
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialCanada, Ontario, Fergus
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 22 Sep 1922
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Minnedosa

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesFlorence Beatrice Bradley b. abt. 1888 was William's mother. She was a housekeeper domestic at 28 South Morton Road, West Ham, working for a Joseph Kennedy (William's natural father) at the time of William John Bradley's birth. Florence had two children while living with Joseph Kennedy as his domestic, and the second child died prior to 1919. She left Joseph Kennedy, taking her older daughter Florence with her, but leaving William John Bradley to be raised by his natural father, Joseph Kennedy. When Florence left Joseph Kennedy, she went to live with her sister, Mrs. Caroline Ohlsson, maintaining herself and child (Florence) by working at a mat factory, at Butcher's Road, Canning Town. Later she lived with a Mrs. Stockwell.

On February 9, 1918 Florence Beatrice Bradley married George Williams, a soldier in Ireland living at 23 Exeter Road, Canning Town. George's father is listed as Henry Williams, Carpenter on their marriage certificate. Florence at time of marriage was a Spinster, working in a Jam Factory and living at 29 Exeter Road.

Florence told her new husband of her daughter's illegitimacy, but made no reference to the existence of William. In the meantime Joseph Kennedy had married, and become the father of four more children. His wife made no objection to the presence of William until Joseph Kennedy died in an explosion or fire at work in 1919; then, being obliged to apply for parish relief, she told William's mother (Florence) that a home must be found for him. As Florence's husband was a stern man, she was afraid to let him know of William's plight, as it would surely have meant shipwreck to the goodwill which existed between them. So Florence took William to Barnardo's Home for Children where he was admitted on June 18th, 1919.

On June 19, 1919 the day after admission to Barnardo's, William was taken to the village of Witchford, which lays close to Ely in Cambridgeshire, where he was boarded out for seventeen months. On Jan. 13, 1921 he was transferred to The Clapham Home in South West London where he remained for nineteen months until his admission on Aug. 8, 1922 to the H M Hospital for three weeks before embarking for Canada on Sept. 14, 1922.

Over the years William totally rejected any attempts by his family to contact him. In 1961-62 a relative came looking for him, and he refused to return their phone call.

William John Bradley died May 27, 1988 at the Fergus Hospital and is buried in Elora, Ontario. 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-08-08 12:56:03 / From original database

Additional Contributions from : alanmack


Last Updated : 2009-01-18 15:06:56 /

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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  30 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
3004 AARON, Alfred Robert1899ENG, LAN, West Derby, Liverpool Mar 1911 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
3003 AARON, John Richard1895ENG, LAN, West Derby, Liverpool Mar 1911 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
3007 ABBEY, Bertha1890ENG, DUR, Stockton on Tees Jul 1904 : Southwark CAN Barnardos  
3006 ABBEY, John1887ENG, DUR, Stockton on Tees Oct 1904 : Southwark CAN Barnardos  
3161 ABBEY, Thomas1892ENG, DUR, Stockton on Tees Oct 1904 : Southwark CAN Barnardos  
3020 ABBOT, Alice1877ENG, MDX, Islington Oct 1893 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
3047 ABBOT, William1878ENG,     Apr 1895 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
3019 ABBOTT, Alfred1869ENG,     Aug 1887 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
23669 ABBOTT, Alice1877ENG,     Oct 1893 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
3022 ABBOTT, Bertie1894ENG, SFK, Ipswich May 1909 : Corsican CAN Barnardos sharonmx5 , patty_in_ms  
3025 ABBOTT, David Henry1891ENG, ESS, Grays Mar 1901 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
3055 ABBOTT, Douglas Groves1910ENG, HAM, Hartley Wintney Apr 1924 : Montclare CAN Barnardos  
3858 ABBOTT, Emily Jane1886ENG, YKS, Guisborough Jul 1903 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
8354 ABBOTT, Frederick Albert Prosper1885ENG, LND, Homerton Apr 1895 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
3036 ABBOTT, George1894ENG, MDX, London Jul 1904 : Southwark CAN Barnardos  
3038 ABBOTT, Herman Henry1882ENG, MDX, Hoxton, London Apr 1895 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
10624 ABBOTT, John1913ENG,     Apr 1929 : Duchess of York CAN Barnardos  
3045 ABBOTT, Leslie1883ENG,     Mar 1893 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
3060 ABBOTT, Lilian1903ENG,     Jun 1912 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
3026 ABBOTT, Mary1888ENG, ESS, Maldon Oct 1902 : Colonian CAN Barnardos  
3049 ABBOTT, Penelope1901ENG, KEN, Sidcup Jun 1912 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
5046 ABBS, Bertie Cecil John1914ENG, LND, St. Pancras Mar 1930 : Duchess of Richmond CAN Barnardos  
3061 ABDALE, John George1873ENG, NBL, Newcastle Upon Tyne Mar 1891 : Norwegian CAN Barnardos  
3063 ABEL, Albert Edward G.1901ENG, ESS, West Ham Aug 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
3066 ABEL, Charles1891ENG,     Mar 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
3065 ABEL, Florence1902ENG, ESS, West Ham Aug 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
3067 ABEL, Frederick1889ENG,     Jul 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
3068 ABEL, George1887ENG,     Aug 1905 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
3069 ABEL, George1897ENG,     Mar 1907 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
3071 ABEL, John1886ENG,     Jun 1897 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
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  30 Entries