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Record #3877
Name :
: Arthur ROBERTS (1889 - 1963)


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1889 (approx.)

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 1963
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 18 Apr 1902
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Ionian

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)
NotesIn 1901, Arthur Roberts, 12 years of age, was shown as an orphan at the Claverton Down Boy's Orphanage, Somersetshire, England, which was being run by Thomas and Mary A. Collett. His birthplace is shown as Yorkshire, England. (Source: 1901 Census of England;

In 1902, Arthur Roberts, 13, arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, along with a group of 47 children en route to the Marchmont Home accompanied by Rev. Mr. Wallace.

In 1911, Arthur Roberts, 22, was shown as a domestic to John Millouses and family in Pittsburg, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada. His date of birth is shown as November 1889, and his immigration year as 1901.

On June 6, 1917, in Pittsburg, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada, a marriage was registered between Arthur Roberts, 27, farmer, born in Somersetshire, England. Arthur did not know the maiden name of his mother or the name of his father as he stated he was "a Home Boy, Father died before old enough to know"; and Mary Isabel Lane, 19, born in Pittsburg, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada, to Joseph Lane and Lucy McMaster. Witnesses to the marriage were James W. Galway and Mrs. Joseph Lane.

According to his grandson, Don Lane, who told Arthur's story on Pier 21 - Canada's Immigration Museum ({website}pier21.ca/research/collections/the-story-collection/online-story-collection/british-home-children/):

Arthur Roberts was born in Cardif, Wales. His father was a riding instructor at a riding school in Sandhurst/Aldershot, where he was thrown from a horse and died. A few months later Arthur's mother died and he and two sisters were sent to an orphanage.

Around 1900 he came to Canada as a "Home Boy". Life was not easy and many "Home" children were badly treated. He never would talk about the first place he lived but he ended up at Millouses, near the Lane Farm, and it was the best place he worked. He would often find a pair of new hand knit mitts under his pillow or a glass of warm milk beside his bed after a hard day's work.

After their barn burned, Arthur worked at anything he could to make ends meet. He would drive to Arden with Walter Abrams early every morning to cut wood all day for $1.00 per day. His lunch pail had to hold food for two meals and was usually frozen. After Grandfather and Grandmother moved in with Galways, he ran the Lane farm until it was sold.

Arthur died in 1963 and was buried in Willowbank Cemetary. 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-07-12 19:51:20 / From original database

Last Updated : 2009-02-01 11:18:16 /

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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  18 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
3169 ADAM, James1894ENG,     May 1911 : Ionian CAN Labourers & Domestics  
18991 BEARDALL, E.1885ENG,     Dec 1904 : Ionian CAN Farmers Laborers  
21589 BELCH, Annie McComb1892ENG,     Jun 1911 : Ionian CAN Labourers & Domestics  
21645 BELL, Agnes1889ENG,     Mar 1904 : Ionian CAN Unknown  
4345 BIRCHALL, Ann Johnson1899SCT, LKS, Glasgow Jul 1908 : Ionian CAN Quarriers  
4347 BIRCHALL, Maggie1897SCT, LKS, Glasgow Jul 1908 : Ionian CAN Quarriers  
4346 BIRCHALL, Mary Ellen1898SCT, LKS, Glasgow Jul 1908 : Ionian CAN Quarriers  
4348 BIRCHALL, Sarah1901SCT, LKS, Glasgow Jul 1908 : Ionian CAN Quarriers  
16304 CRUMP, Charles Frederick1893ENG,    , Brampton Abbotts Mar 1904 : Ionian CAN Unknown  
10283 DURHAM, Ina1897SCT,    , Leith Jul 1908 : Ionian CAN Quarriers  
17599 GITTENS, Lillian1897ENG,     Jul 1904 : Ionian CAN Liverpool Sheltering Home  
3617 KINGHORN, Margaret1894ENG,    , Strichen Jul 1908 : Ionian CAN Quarriers  
10287 MCJURY, Margaret1893SCT,    , Portpatrick Jul 1908 : Ionian CAN Quarriers  
3877 ROBERTS, Arthur1889ENG,     Apr 1902 : Ionian CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)  
16997 TENNANT, James1895ENG,     Jun 1910 : Ionian CAN Salvation Army  
23236 TYRIE, Jessie1897SCT,    , Dunoon Jul 1908 : Ionian CAN Quarriers  
16918 WALKER, William1894ENG,     Dec 1911 : Ionian CAN   
16919 WALKER, William1895ENG,     Mar 1911 : Ionian CAN