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Record #4692
Name :
: Alexander Benjamin BIDDIS (1869 - 1939)
  aka : Ben Beddis


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: Nov 1869

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 1939
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 11 Aug 1884
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Sardinian

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesBen was living at Dulwich Farm in Dulwich (southeast of London; just north of the Norwood area) when he moved to Barnardo's Home. His mother came to visit him at the home on October 9, 1880 (there might have been more visits, but this one was recorded). Ben's maternal grandmother was Sarah Dell. She was about 70 in 1879, and lived at 5 Little Suffolk Street, Borough (called Sudrey Street at least by 1889).

In 1884, Benjamin Beddis, 14, arrived in Quebec, Canada, along with a group of 48 children. From Quebec, he traveled to Oxford County (Princeton Post Office, Woodstock) in Ontario where he stayed with a W. McArthur family for four years, until April 1888. From there he went to work on a farm in Innerkip, Ontario for a James Mugary Wilson. By 1899, at the age of 31, he was married and owned his own farm. (EDITORS NOTE: The 1891 Canadian Census placed Ben on the farm of a James Montgomery.)

On May 24, 1893, in the Central Methodist Church Parsonage, Township of Blandford, Oxford, Ontario, Canada, a marriage was registered between Alexander Benjamin Biddis, 23, labourer, born in England, son of William and Ann Biddis; and Jane Small, 22, born in Canada, daughter of Matheson and Jane Small. Witnesses: Charles Biddis and Elizabeth Small, both of Blandford Township. (Source: Schedule B Marriages, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada, page 307)

Benjamin and Jane Biddis had four sons, two dying young: Alexander Benjamin Biddis, 27 Jul 1893; Alfred Charles Biddis, 2 April 1895; Robert Matherson Biddis, 14 Mar 1898, died 28 Oct 1898 Oxford County, 7 mths; and William Matthews Biddis, 22 Jul 1902, died 23 Oct 1902 Oxford County 3 mths. All the children were born in Oxford County, Ontario, father Alexander B or Ben BIDDIS and mother Jane SMALL.

The 1894 Directory for Blandford Township lists Benjamin Biddis lived at Concession 4 Lot 6; there was also a Charles Biddis listed at Concession 4, Lot 6.

Benjamin Beddis posted in Barnardos UPS & DOWNS, Volume 1, #3, October 1, 1895, "BIDDIS Benjamin farms for himself near Woodstock and is looking for a Barnardo boy but not 'one who would need to go to school in the winter as I have a lot of light work to do.'"

In Barnardos UPS & DOWNS with Almanac for 1902, Volume VII, No. 2, January 1, 1902, "Biddis, Benjamin prosperous farmer."

A letter was sent to Ben in 1935 (three years before he died) probably from Barnardo's asking about his condition and the overall results of his having been sent to Canada. There is no record of Ben's having answered this query. However, one of Benjamin's descendants said "[We] can answer ... that they (themselves) turned out very well and that we are all proud of Ben's amazing and heart wrenching journey (and proud to be related to him)."

Jane BIDDIS died 13 Aug 1934 Woodstock, Oxford county aged 64y 11m 30d - birth date 14 Aug 1869 Oxford county, father Matherson SMALL and mother Jane BELL.

In the Innerkip Cemetery Records, it lists Jane Small as having died in 1934, age 65, wife of A. Benjamin Biddis, who died 1939 age 68. 
ContributorsCreated : 2009-02-08 14:29:35 / From original database

Last Updated : 2009-02-08 15:45:46 /

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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 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 841 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
3009 ABBIS, Ann1877ENG, STS, Stoke upon Trent Jun 1890 : Sardinian CAN Maria Rye  
3010 ABBIS, Matilda1880ENG, STS, Stoke Upon Trent Jun 1890 : Sardinian CAN Maria Rye  
3014 ABBOTT, Adelaide1872ENG, LAN, Manchester Jul 1876 : Sardinian CAN MacPherson Homes  
3048 ABBOTT, Walter1871ENG,     May 1885 : Sardinian CAN Lord Archibald Douglas  
3070 ABELL, George1870ENG,     Apr 1886 : Sardinian CAN MacPherson Homes  
3083 ABLETT, Grace1885ENG,     May 1889 : Sardinian CAN Washwell House  
3099 ABRAM, Catherine Louise1882ENG, KEN, Deptford Sep 1895 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
8486 ABRAM, Maria Elizabeth1884ENG, KEN, Deptford Sep 1895 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
8487 ABRAM, Zillah Ellen1886ENG, KEN, Deptford Sep 1895 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
3102 ABRAMS, Frank1883ENG,     Jul 1894 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
3106 ABSALOM, Richard1874ENG, SRY, Cobham Apr 1890 : Sardinian CAN Unknown  
23729 ADAMS, Elizabeth J1877ENG,     Oct 1892 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
23727 ADAMS, Grace1867ENG,     Jul 1883 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
23734 ADAMS, Ruth1872ENG,     Jul 1883 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
19730 ADAMS, William1876ENG,     May 1893 : Sardinian CAN Catholic Emigration Society  
7354 ADDISON, Annie Louise1879ENG, SRY, Newington Oct 1892 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
7355 ADDISON, Emily Josephine1880ENG, SRY, Newington Oct 1892 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
9833 ADLINGTON, George Richard1880ENG, LND, Limehouse Nov 1891 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
7340 ADLINGTON, Percival Stanley1883ENG, LND, Limehouse Nov 1891 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
22727 AGAAS, George1886ENG,     Sep 1895 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
20826 AGENT, Alfred1880ENG, KEN, Woolwich Aug 1892 : Sardinian CAN Rev. William J. Pady  
8537 ALDEN, James Robert1872ENG, LND, Poplar Aug 1884 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
18223 ALDRIDGE, Alfred 1876ENG,     Apr 1890 : Sardinian CAN Waifs & Strays  
21624 ALFORD, George1879ENG,     Apr 1891 : Sardinian CAN Waifs & Strays  
8823 ALLCOCK, Edith1882ENG,     Jun 1890 : Sardinian CAN Maria Rye  
23759 ALLEN, Kate1873ENG,     Jul 1883 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
13211 ALLEN, William1883ENG,     Jul 1894 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
3079 ALLENDER, Samuel1874ENG,     Apr 1888 : Sardinian CAN Quarriers  
10954 ALLPORT, Daisy Dot1879ENG, WAR, Birmingham Jun 1890 : Sardinian CAN Maria Rye  
13111 ALLSOP, Ernest1885ENG, STS, Stoke on Trent Jun 1896 : Sardinian CAN Catholic Protection Society  
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 841 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