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Record #5313
Name :
: Kenneth BICKERTON (1916 - )


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1916

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Crewe
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 1 Aug 1930
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Duchess of York

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: British Immigration and Colonisation Association
Notesnext of kin on passenger list given as Grandfather-James Farmer, 27 Chilwode Street,Crewe, destination-
B.I.C.A, 1227 Osborne St, Montreal, Quebec, intended occupation-farming


British Home Children share a bond at weekend reunion
By MICHELLE RUBY
Updated 1 year ago
Edgar Albert Smith didn't talk much about his childhood.

His daughter, Anita Nichol, said she always knew he was a British Home Child, one of more than 100,000 youngsters who emigrated from Great Britain to Canada between 1869 and 1939. Other than that, though, she didn't know much more.

A short discussion he had later in life with Nichol's younger sister may explain some of his reluctance to reminisce.

He told his daughter that he was among a group of boys being appraised by farmers some time after arriving in Hamilton from the National Children's Home in Great Britain. It was 1920 and he was 14.

The farmers were selecting boys to be their farm labourers.

"He was the last one standing," Nichol said of her dad. "He was short for his age. "The farmer looked at him and said, 'Well, I guess I got stuck with you.'

"But I think that was the worst of it. In his letters (obtained only recently) he never talked about any mistreatment. But I think he may have felt that his family back in England had abandoned him."

Nichol and her sister Jane Baynton were among hundreds of people, many of them descendents of British Home Children, who attended a reunion on the weekend at Smokey Hollow Estates.

The Brant County branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society hosted the two-day event. On hand was a wealth of historical information, records and expertise for those wanting to track their Home Child roots.

"These truly were not ordinary children or Canadians," said Brant MP Phil McColeman, who introduced a private member's bill in the House of Commons to recognize 2010 as the Year of the British Home Child.

"They were heroes. They came to Canada and they made this country better. They were the salt of what this country is made of."

The majority of visitors who came to Smokey Hollow on Saturday were from outside Brant County. Some were armed with binders and envelopes filled with photos and documentation about their ancestors.

On display was a British Home Children memorial photo quilt made by Gail Collins of St. Catharines.

Each of the quilt's 56 squares is dedicated to a particular child, based on information and graphics submitted to Collins by descendents.

McColeman's late uncle, Kenneth Bickerton, an orphan sent to Canada at the age of 14, is commemorated in the lower left-hand corner of the quilt. Edgar Albert Smith is also honoured on a square.

While child migrants faced hardships in Canada, living conditions in their homeland were wretched. The Industrial Revolution in Great Britain, from the 18th to early 19th century, caused a population explosion.

Living conditions for the poor, particularly in the east end of London, were deplorable and thousands of homeless children lived on the streets.

Homes for orphans and street children were established. They included Fegan Homes, Barnardo Homes, National Children's Home, and Maria Rye agency. Rye was the first person to bring a group of children to Canada.

"To say that Britain's loss was Canada's gain is an understatement," said Shirley Sturdevant, vice chair of the Ontario Genealogical Society, a guest at Saturday's event. Sturdevant's grandfather was a Home Child.

"You know there were sad times and mistreatment, but there were good stories, too. My grandfather was almost billeted at a farm (in Canada) where he was allowed to become assimilated."

Sturdevant said the Ontario Genealogical Society is considering the establishment of a special interest group related to Home Children.

Jan Coward came from Bradford on Saturday in the hope of making connections that could help her discover more about her great-uncle John Speed. He was 10 when he was sent from Britain to Canada in 1876.

Coward said he may have been aboard a steam ship for the month-long crossing of the Atlantic.

Coward is also tracking Fred Henry who was 15 when he came to live with her grandparents as a farm labourer in 1924.

"He finished his schooling and was considered part of the family.

"I never heard any bad stories from Fred. I think he was one of the fortunate ones. I know there are others who didn't have that experience at all." 
ContributorsCreated : 2009-02-26 11:11:27 / From original database

Last Updated : 2015-07-02 11:27:32 / alanmack

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IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
5313 BICKERTON, Kenneth1916ENG,    , Crewe Aug 1930 : Duchess of York CAN British Immigration and Colonisation Association