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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  2 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
4692 BIDDIS, Alexander Benjamin1869ENG,     Aug 1884 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
4694 BIDDIS, Jessie Annie1880ENG,     Sep 1895 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos