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Record #2662
Name :
: Thomas Kean MCFADZEAN (1875 - )


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 25 Jun 1875

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthScotland, Ayr
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialCanada, Ontario, Barrie
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 8 Apr 1888
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Carthaginian

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Quarriers
NotesParents: James McFadzean and Margaret Keane/Kane, married in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1871. James (Sr) was a stone mason, journeyman and Margaret a domestic servant, both living in Calton, Glasgow.

In 1872 they were blessed with a daughter, Selina Kane McFadzean, born in Dalmellington, Ayr. James (jr) was born in 1873 registered in St Quivox & Newton, Ayr. And brother, Thomas was born in 1875 at Whitletts, Ayr. and twins Arthur and Ann born in 1877 in Barnhill Poorhouse Glasgow...Ann died.

According to Quarriers in 1886, James McFadzean had been out of work for a very long time. The children had been in the 'Day feeding School' for some years. The person who was making these entries in the log book, felt that James was a useless drunk and was quite blunt about it.

Their mother, Margaret, was deathly ill with consumption, so James Sr. and Margaret's sister, Annie Brown, took the three boys to Quarrier's [Orphan Homes of Scotland]. Selina then 14, went to Ayr with her mother, to take care of her. ...but 3 months later Margaret wanted the boys back...she said she "had no pleasure or happiness" without them...but Quarrier's said wait and see. On another occasion, James Sr "took the pledge" (to stop drinking) and Margaret said she was feeling better, and could the boys come home, but Quarriers said "wait and see".

Margaret and James moved to Johnston, Renfrewshire, to be closer to the Orphanage at Bridge of Weir. Margaret's father, Thomas Kean, and her brother-in-law, William Clark, told Quarrier's that they would help support the family ... they tried on several occasions between 1886 and 1888 to get the boys out, but Quarrier's would not release them...instead they shipped them to Canada, in 1888.
On Mar 19, 1888, William Quarrier wrote in his report that a number of the children's relatives were at City House, objecting to their boys going to Canada, and giving trouble. According to Quarrier's log book, my great grandparents were among the objecting parents, however on Mar 29 their three sons were shipped to Canada, on the SS Carthaginian, in spite of the objections.

Thomas was the only one of the three McFadzean brothers to live past age 25. Sadly by then he was a chronic alcoholic who suffered terrible bouts of depression. He was refused for this reason, by the Canadian Army, to join the CEF, even though he applied 3 times.

He apparently wanted to go home to Scotland, not realizing that there was no home there...his mother had died the year after he left and his father had died in 1897.

His sister (my grandmother) tried to look out for him as best she could. In his later years, he was a civilian labourer at Camp Borden where my father was Paymaster. Tom lived with his dog, in a small cabin at the back of my Grandparents property and died in his 70's. 
ContributorsCreated : 2009-01-11 19:21:28 / From original database

Last Updated : 2015-06-21 01:53:11 /

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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  5 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
2686 MCFADZEAN, Arthur1877SCT, LKS, Glasgow Apr 1888 : Carthaginian CAN Quarriers Eve.R  
2660 MCFADZEAN, James1873SCT, AYR, Saint Quivox Apr 1888 : Carthaginian CAN Quarriers Eve.R  
2702 MCFADZEAN, Selina Keane1872SCT, AYR, Dalmellington Oct 1891 : Buenos Ayrean CAN Unknown Eve.R  
2662 MCFADZEAN, Thomas Kean1875SCT, AYR Apr 1888 : Carthaginian CAN Quarriers Eve.R  
3914 STEWART, Caroline1883ENG,     Jun 1890 : Sardinian CAN Maria Rye Eve.R