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Record #4488
Name :
: William Douglas GREGORY (1892 - )


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 7 Jul 1892

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Lancashire, Manchester

Miles Platting
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 26 Mar 1909
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Canada

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: National Childrens Home
NotesParents: Emily Ellam Carter and Richard Gregory, married in Manchester, England, in 1881.

In 1891, the family resided at 1 Maudala St., Miles Platting, Manchester. Children: Jane, Jessie, Annie, Richard, Elizabeth, William, John and Walter.

In 1901, William Gregory, 8 years of age, was shown residing at 1 Magdala Street, Newton, North Mancester, Lancashire, England. Other family members included: Annie Gregory, 15; Elizabeth Gregory, 10; Emily Gregory, 42; Jane Ann Gregory, 18, piecer in woollen room; Jessie Gregory, 16, thristle winder cotton mill; John Gregory, 6; Richard Gregory, 49, bottler (brewery); Richard Gregory, 13; Walter Gregory, 3. (Source: 1901 Census of England; Class: RG13; Piece: 3760; Folio: 114; Page: 10.)

William Douglas Gregory was placed at the National Childrens Home in Edgworth, Lancashire, England in 1902, after he left home at a very young age because of his abusive father. The home was located in the north west of England and was built on the moors. At Edgworth, the children were taught farming. His father then died of chronic bronchitis, leaving his mother with 8 children.

In 1909, William Gregory, 16, arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in a group of 64 children from the National Childrens Home en route to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

A letter from William's mother to Mr. Hills in 1910 states she still did not have much money. Her daughters were not working very much.

In 1911, William Gregory, 19, was shown as a boarder with Julia Aple at 455 Ontario, Stratford, Ontario, Canada. His date of birth was shown as January 1892 and his immigration year from England as 1911.

William Gregory went to work on the Burlington Bridge. His application form for this job asked for work experience and he wrote:

"...from April 1909 until 1912 I worked on a farm. I worked for F.L. Culver for two years at Waterford. I worked for T.D. Harrison for one year at Stoney Creek."

William seemed to be close to Mr. and Mrs. Hills at Dr. Stephenson's home in Hamilton, Ontario (Mr. Hill was the governor of Dr. Stephanson's home in Hamilton). William lent his friend Charle Vokes $250.00 with an agreement to pay back as soon as Charle got that large sum of money he was waiting for. Mr. Hills checked this agreement. Charlie never did pay back all the money.

In 1914 (when William was 21 years of age), he wrote to Mr. Hill that he had his own bank account and asked that Mr. Hill deposit the money he has earned into his account. He made $20.00 a month at this time.

On August 29, 1915, William wrote to Mr. Hills from Saskatchewan. He talked about going to Winnipeg for the winter but changed his mind and came back to Hamilton.

"Aug 29, 1915
Dear Mr. Hills:

We have settled at last after a lot of trouble and adventure. The farmers have more men than they require. We had to walk twenty miles
for this job. The wages are poor, we get 2.50 a day. I will take your
offer and be back for Nov 1. I will write you later.

Remain yours
Respectfully,
W. Gregory

William's next job in Saskatchewan was 3.50 a day. He wrote to Mr. Hill, "Money is here." William received .50 more than the other fellows because he had the job of spike pitching.

On February 9, 1916, at Burlington, Halton, Ontario, Canada, a marriage was registered between William Douglas Gregory, 22, munition worker, born Manchester, England, to Richard Gregory and Emily Carter; and Winnifred Mary Ellen Andrews, 27, born Portsmouth, England, to William Charles Andrews and Millicent Albertina Andrews.

Winifred Mary Ellen Andrews was placed in Muellers Orphanage in Bristol after her parents died. She was orphaned at a very early age, along with her half-brother Arthur. She came to work "in service" at the age of 21 on the ship Victorian which arrived at Quebec, Canada, on May 20, 1910. She arrived in a group of 25 young persons. Her half-brother, Arthur, fought in World War I in the 2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment, stationed at Poona, India. He wrote her a poignant letter in 1914:

"...I am very likely to get killed in Getwin?, and then you will be all by yourself. I know you would miss me, but I am sure you would be brave, because you would know that I was safe from all further trouble.

Another thing is this. You would like your Brother to be a man and die like one. You would despise me if you had a coward for a Brother. I am sure you would not like to live and have to know that I was mean enough to live and be a disgrace. I want you to bear in mind Winnie, that I am going to try and show that a God fearing man can do his duty and die like a Soldier and a man. I may come back and if I do you will find your Brother will not disgrace the name you own. ..."

Arthur was captured at Kut al Amara in 1916, where it is presumed he died. Winifred never heard from him again.

On March 16, 1916, at Burlington, Ontario, Canada, William Gregory, 22, enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces (Service No. 663538). He declared that he resided in Burlington, Ontario, Canada; that he was born in Manchester, England; that his next of kin was his wife, Winnie Gregory, who resided at Burlington, Ontario, Canada; that his date of birth was July 7, 1892; and that he was a machinist. He was described as 5 foot 8-1/2 inches in height; fair complexion; blue eyes; light hair. He was a member of the Baptist faith. 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-10-29 16:45:30 / From original database

Last Updated : 2009-01-24 10:28:34 /

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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        
Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 384 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
3023 ABBOTT, Charles1884ENG, ESS, Messing Apr 1900 : Dominion CAN National Childrens Home  
3033 ABBOTT, Frederick1893ENG, SRY, Kingston Upon Thames Mar 1903 : Canada CAN National Childrens Home  
3103 ABRAHAMS, Frederick1876ENG,     Mar 1891 : Sarnia CAN National Childrens Home  
3149 ACREMAN, Emily1877ENG,     Jul 1888 : Vancouver CAN National Childrens Home  
3165 ADAM, Charles1899ENG,     Mar 1913 : Canada CAN National Childrens Home  
17047 ADCOCK, William1892ENG, NTT, Rolleston Oct 1907 : Canada CAN National Childrens Home  
9832 ADKINS, Proctor Selby1894ENG,     Mar 1910 : Canada CAN National Childrens Home  
5358 AITKEN, Lawrence Gray1909SCT, LKS, Glasgow Aug 1925 : Montnairn CAN National Childrens Home  
5359 ALFORD, Stanley Victor1910ENG, HRT, Royston Aug 1925 : Montnairn CAN National Childrens Home  
22729 ALLAN, Alec1876ENG,     Mar 1889 : Vancouver CAN National Childrens Home  
13096 ALLEN, Ernest John1894WAL, GLA, Pontypridd Aug 1909 : Canada CAN National Childrens Home  
2735 ALLEN, Harry Edward1898ENG, LAN Jul 1908 : Canada CAN National Childrens Home  
10434 ALLENBY, Edward1908ENG, YKS, Kirkbymoorside Aug 1924 : Doric CAN National Childrens Home  
9112 ALLISON, John Henry1897ENG, KEN, Sidcup Mar 1910 : Canada CAN National Childrens Home soutsc  
14556 ANDERSON, Charlotte1871ENG, LAN, Liverpool May 1885 : Sarnia CAN National Childrens Home  
11880 ANDERSON, Christine1875ENG,     May 1885 : Sarnia CAN National Childrens Home  
10452 ANDERSON, William1906ENG, LDN, London Jul 1921 : Megantic CAN National Childrens Home  
12754 ANDREWS, Gertrude1879ENG,     May 1889 : Sarnia CAN National Childrens Home  
12637 ANGLIS, Philip George1886ENG, LND, Lewisham Apr 1904 : Southwark CAN National Childrens Home  
5360 APOW, Leslie1911ENG, LDN, London Aug 1925 : Montnairn CAN National Childrens Home  
4390 ARGENT, Albert1878ENG,     Mar 1891 : Sarnia CAN National Childrens Home  
8614 ARGENT, Joseph1892ENG, YKS, Sheffield Mar 1909 : Canada CAN National Childrens Home Lyn 8  
4389 ARGENT, William John1878ENG,     Mar 1891 : Sarnia CAN National Childrens Home  
12638 ASHDOWN, Pitman W1890ENG,    , Edmonton Apr 1904 : Southwark CAN National Childrens Home  
6447 ASLETT, Ethel 1881ENG,     May 1891 : Sarnia CAN National Childrens Home  
8180 ASPDEN, Joseph1913ENG,    , Fulwood Sep 1928 : Antonia CAN National Childrens Home  
5361 ATKINSON, Thos1910ENG, YKS, Keighley Aug 1925 : Montnairn CAN National Childrens Home  
10454 ATTFIELD, Harry1910ENG,     Mar 1924 : Lancastria CAN National Childrens Home  
14557 AUCKLAND, Harry1882ENG,     Apr 1894 : Labrador CAN National Childrens Home  
5393 AULT, Ada May1882ENG, DBY, Derby May 1891 : Sarnia CAN National Childrens Home  
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 384 Entries        
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