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Record #3881
Name :
: Percy BROWN (1913 - )


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1913 (approx.)

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 27 Mar 1927
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Montrose

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesIn 1927, Percy Brown, 14, arrived at St. John, New Brunwick, Canada, along with a group of 29 children en route to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Rev. Percy Brown tells his own story from there (Source: Pier 21 - Canada's Immigration Museum, {website}pier21.ca/research/collections/the-story-collection/online-story-collection/british-home-children/)

At the time, my destination was different. However, sometimes second best turns out to be best.

I was fourteen, in 1927, when the opportunity arrived. After living in a British orphanage for ten years, I read an announcement on the bulletin board. It stated that anyone who was fourteen years old could apply to immigrate to Australia. What a wonderful and exciting adventure! For the first time in many years, I felt light shining upon me. After taking several tests and passing the interviewing process, I was on my way!

Just as quickly as the opportunity came, it vanished. Because of a flu epidemic in Australia, all passages were cancelled. At the age of fourteen, I felt that my dreams had been crushed.

Another door opened. I was asked if I would like to go to Canada. What a blessing for me! I was on my journey with about twenty-nine other boys and three girls.

In March, 1927, I boarded the Montrose. I don't remember a lot of details about the journey. I do remember that, as we crossed the Irish Sea, I was seasick, so sick that I stayed in my cabin. However, the steward came to get me and made me eat breakfast. Quickly I was sick over the rail. The steward made me eat a second breakfast. Finally I was able to keep the food in my stomach. Other memories of seeing whales and sighting land are very vague.

After landing at St. John, I thought, I took a three-day train journey to Hamilton. There I stayed with Mr. Hill until he found me a place to stay. Mr. Hill was in charge of the children.

The first place was a farm in Caledonia. There the owners viewed me and another young boy as workers only. I worked outside from about 5 a.m. to sometimes 10 p.m.. I was allowed to stop only for a few minutes to eat my meals. The other young man worked only in the house. So, we did not have time to develop any friendship.

One day I was so tired that I stopped the horses and rested before I had finished ploughing a field. I had been afraid of not being able to control the horses and falling onto the blades. While I was sleeping, the farmer passed me, but did not wake me up. When I awoke, it was dark. So, I took the horses to the barn and unsaddled them. When I went to get supper, the farmer told me that I could not eat until I had finished the field. I was tired; so, I refused. He refused to give me supper.

After six weeks of very hard work for which I was paid five dollars a month, I was returned to Mr. Hill.

This episode had branded me as incorrigible young man. For two weeks, I was kept in my room. After this time, I was asked if I could behave and do as I was told. Of course I said "Yes". Otherwise, I may have been sen back to Britain.

My second place of work was in Drumbo. The farmer and his wife treated me as if I were their own child. It was this couple who took me to church and who influenced me to sing in the choir. I spent a wonderful six-year period with them.

Am I glad that I came to Canada? Indeed, yes! Canada has allowed me to follow many pathways; it has granted me a successful living and an opportunity to have a wonderful family. I have been very blessed.

Many years have passed since I arrived in Canada. Now, at the age of 87 years, I am an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada. I was ordained in London, Ontario, at the age of 60 ? years old. So, I have been blessed in many ways. 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-07-13 12:42:53 / From original database

Last Updated : 2008-07-13 12:47:24 /

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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 8 219 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
22564 ADEY, W S1909ENG,     Jul 1922 : Montrose CAN MacPherson Homes  
6640 ALEXANDER, John1913ENG, LDN, London Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
7895 ALLDRIDGE, George Gage Notcut1910ENG, SAL, Newport (Salop) Jul 1925 : Montrose CAN Salvation Army  
22774 ALLEN, Charles1911ENG,     Apr 1926 : Montrose CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
6641 ANDERTON, Albert1912ENG, BRK, Reading Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6642 ANDERTON, Charles 1912ENG, BRK, Reading Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
5072 ANDREWS, Hugh1912ENG, LAN, Liverpool Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
5073 ARMSTRONG, John 1912ENG, LDN, London Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6643 AUSTIN, John1913ENG, LDN, London Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
5074 BABB, William1911ENG,    , Islington Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
7860 BACON, Ivy Lilian1913ENG,    , Edmonton Jul 1923 : Montrose CAN Salvation Army  
5123 BARKER, Frances1911ENG,    , Fulham Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
18478 BARNES, Amy V1897ENG,     1912 : Montrose CAN   
18506 BARNES, Edward1907ENG,     1923 : Montrose CAN   
6644 BATES, Rose1913ENG,    , Cheltenham Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
5075 BATES, Thomas1912ENG,     Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6723 BEADLE, Walter1911ENG, LDN, London Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN National Childrens Home  
19546 BEATLEY, Thomas1910ENG,     Apr 1926 : Montrose CAN Unknown  
5076 BEATTIE, Leslie1911ENG, LAN, Liverpool Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6724 BENNETT, Ernest1913ENG,    , Bolsover Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN National Childrens Home  
5077 BENNION, Charles 1911ENG, LAN, Liverpool Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6645 BERRY, Daniel1914ENG,    , Dalton Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6646 BERRY, Robert1919ENG,    , Dalton in Furness Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6647 BERRY, William1913ENG,    , Dalton in Furness Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
5078 BIRKENHEAD, Joseph1910WAL,    , Hazel Beach Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
10463 BISHOP, George1908ENG, LDN, London May 1924 : Montrose CAN Sailing Alone  
22906 BLACKLEDGE, Doris May1917ENG,     Jul 1923 : Montrose CAN Salvation Army  
14821 BLOOMFIELD, Harold1915ENG,     Jul 1923 : Montrose CAN Salvation Army  
6648 BOWDEN, Leslie1913ENG,    , Torquay Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6725 BOYD, William1911IRL,    , Colerain Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN National Childrens Home  
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 219 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