Notes Wallace Crawford was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England on June 22, 1964. His father was Henry Crawford (b. 1834); his mother was Sarah Ann Keeling (b. March 17, 1834). Both his parents came from Birmingham and were married on October 31, 1853 in St Peter & St Paul Church, Aston Juxta, Birmingham, Warwick, England.
Wallace had three brothers and three sisters:
William Henry (b: 1859 - Birmingham),
George Richmond (b: 1861 - Birmingham),
Clifford (b: 1874 - Wolverhampton, Staffordshire),
Rose Ann (b: 1858 - Birmingham),
Ellen Jane (b: 19 Aug. 1866 - Birmingham)
Sarah Ann (b: Sept. 1870 - Wolverhampton, Staffordshire).
The UK Census of 1881 lists Wallace being 17 years old and an inmate of Hertfordshire Reformatory School(Herts Reformatory). His parents and siblings are in Birmingham. The following year, on Aug. 2, 1882 he arrived in Canada aboard the Nova Scotian with the following group:
Name Given Name Age Sex Ship Arrival
1. COOK Albert 17 M Nova Scotian 1882
2. VENTOR Charles 18 M Nova Scotian 1882
3. COOK Frank 19 M Nova Scotian 1882
4. SMITH Frederick 18 M Nova Scotian 1882
5. HOBB Henry 18 M Nova Scotian 1882
6. HETHERINGTON Hugh 18 M Nova Scotian 1882
7. WAGSTAFF I 18 M Nova Scotian 1882
8. HUTCHINSON Nancy 18 F Nova Scotian 1882
9. McLEOD Robert 18 M Nova Scotian 1882
10.WHEELER Thomas 17 M Nova Scotian 1882
11.CRAWFORD Wallace 18 M Nova Scotian 1882
(Info from Canada Libary and Archives) (To be noted that #9 Robert McLeod is also listed as an inmate of Herts Reformatory in the UK Census of 1881)
There is no listing of the organization that sent this group to Canada.
Wallace's destination was for Quebec, but I have not found him listed in any Quebec Archives for that or subsequent years. His appears residing and marrying Rose Ann Burk in Ottawa, Ontario in 1889 and is employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway as baggageman. He became a conductor (Ottawa-Montreal line) and remained with CPR until 1902 then moved to Montreal, Quebec.
Wallace and Rose Ann had three children - Sarah Ann, Walter, and Cyril.
Wallace Crawford never saw his parents and siblings after his departure from England. He never spoke about his departure from England. Wallace Crawford died on September 21, 1944 in Montreal, Quebec.
In 2007, the great-granddaughter of George Richmond Crawford (Wallace's brother) was found me via Canada Library and Archives. She was aware that her great-uncle Wallace had lived in Canada but was unaware that he had been a Home Child. To date, information as to why he was sent and by whom remains unknown.
Maureen Crawford,
Granddaughter
Contributors Created : 2008-10-05 21:08:54 / From original database Last Updated : 2009-05-04 10:22:12 /
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