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Record #2687
Name :
: Peter CLEMENTS (1878 - )


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: Nov 1878

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Lancashire, Preston
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 16 May 1896
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Parisian

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Liverpool Sheltering Home
NotesParents: Malachi Clements and Catherine Finlay, married 1866 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.

Peter Clements was brought by his father, Malachi, to the Liverpool Sheltering Centre in February 1895. His mother, Catherine, had died about a year previous in the Whittlesey work house of dropsy. Malachi told authorities at the Sheltering Home that he was unable to care for his son.

Peter was not taken in on his first visit. The Sheltering Home report notes "he was said to be suffering from General Tuberculosis and skin disease of a non-infectious nature."

Malachi Clements remarried the 12th of October, 1895, to Ellen Walsh in Preston, Lancashire, England. (He died on July 27th, 1905 in his home at 29 Park Street in Preston.)

In April, 1896 Peter's father came again to the sheltering home with his son who was now deemed to be "in good health." The Liverpool Sheltering Home Admittance Records show:

"Peter Clements, aged (indistinguishable: could be 14 or 17), 24 November 1895, admitted 30 April 1896. Case of Mr. J. Williamson 17 Cannon St. Preston Hon. Sec. Shepherd St. Mission Preston.

Application was made for this lad Feb. '95 but he was said to be suffering from 'General Tuberculosis & skin disease of a non-infectious character' all of which were said to be 'curable with good nourishment & attention'. The doctor in Preston (Dr. Clarke) says he is now in good health & that he is likely to grow up a strong healthy lad. Dr. Halton also has 'passed' him. For the past year he has been in the Refuge at Preston chopping wood etc.

His father Malachi Clements, 16 Queen St. Preston is a labourer but takes no interest in his boy & he is better away from him. Mother (Catherine Clements) died 2 yrs. ago. Two others Thos. Ed. 25, a weaver living in a lodging house. Annie 19 a weaver, at Longridge St. Preston. Peter passed Form IV attended Shepherd St. Mission Preston and was born in Preston. Looks as if he needs training."

Now certifiably admissable, Peter was sent with "Mrs. Birt's party" to Knowlton House in Quebec on the SS Parisian, stepping onto Canadian soil on May 16, 1896. He was seventeen but the sheltering home records and the ship passenger list both show his age as fifteen.

He worked for various farm families in Quebec's Argeintul area, returning when under duress (once in the winter with no footwear) to Knowlton House for a new placing. The Liverpool Sheltering Home report, while hard to follow chronologically, offers some clues to Peter's years in indenture on several Canadian farms.

"May 20, 1896. Robt. Pringle. Scotstown, P.Q. $48 1st yr.

April 9, Mr. Walter Morrison, Arundel, P.Q. $36 1st yr.

Returned April 2nd, has had feet frozen & destitute of clothes, wrote Master.

Feb.9th, Verified by Mr. Parker boy eccentric does not obey Mrs. P. Not well behaved.

Oct. 31st, 1898. Visited by Mr. McQual, conduct & health good. Satisfied with his place, but like most of them his wages are simply his clothing. $30.00 spent on clothing, receives $36.00

May 11th 1899. Wages $3.00 per month, $15.00 (ineligible word) but I fear will get little beyond his keep.

J. W. McQ. Oct. 24th 1899. Mr. M. (Morrison) writes Peter will soon be 21 & wants to leave & go work in the woods, told him to let him go.

Aug. 29th 1900. Mr. McQual: health & conduct good. att ch (attends church?) $12.00 wages, doing well.

Sep. 1916. He is married and working on section CN RR at Arundel. Has several children."


Peter married Lily Moncrief, the niece of one of his former farm bosses in Arundel, Quebec on December 1, 1909.

Peter and Lily Clements, migrated to Alberta sometime in the late 1920s. They farmed initially around Edgerton and Provost. Driven off the prairie land of Eastern Alberta by the dust storms and drought of the great depression, they resettled in the Barrhead-Westlock area where they raised their seven children: Cecil, Violet, Mert, Willard, Herman, Dick and Rhoda.

Peter's many descendants (over 100 in 2007) can be found across Canada today, a legacy of the British Home Children program. 
ContributorsCreated : 2009-01-11 19:21:12 / From original database

Last Updated : 2009-02-02 20:27:04 /

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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  19 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
14016 CLEMENTS, Alice1889ENG,     Sep 1901 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
23154 CLEMENTS, Arthur1898ENG,     Apr 1911 : Empress of Britain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
9023 CLEMENTS, Charlotte1895ENG, GLS, Bristol Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
4435 CLEMENTS, David Norman1943ENG, WOR, Worcester Apr 1955 : Iberia AUS Barnardos  
26901 CLEMENTS, Denis1933ENG,     Mar 1939 : Strathnaver AUS Christian Brothers  
25308 CLEMENTS, Ernest William1927ENG, LND, Woolwich Aug 1938 : Strathaird AUS Christian Brothers  
14400 CLEMENTS, Frederick1882ENG,     Jun 1895 : Mongolian CAN Unknown Catholic Group  
8776 CLEMENTS, George1909ENG,    , Croydon Apr 1925 : Montclare CAN Barnardos  
4801 CLEMENTS, George Herbert1897ENG, HRT Aug 1907 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
26174 CLEMENTS, Henry1894ENG,     Mar 1903 : Canada CAN Barnardos  
5673 CLEMENTS, James1898IRL,     May 1911 : Tunisian CAN Louisa Birt  
16389 CLEMENTS, Norah1897ENG, GLS, Soundwell, Bristol Jun 1912 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos sutlyn  
2687 CLEMENTS, Peter1878ENG, LAN, Preston May 1896 : Parisian CAN Liverpool Sheltering Home  
20915 CLEMENTS, R P1931ENG,     Aug 1938 : Otranto AUS Christian Brothers  
8079 CLEMENTS, Richard Aynsley1909ENG,    , Bishop's Stortford Jul 1922 : Montrose CAN MacPherson Homes  
14084 CLEMENTS, Sydney1886ENG,     Jul 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
20597 CLEMENTS, Thomas Edwin1894 Apr 1905 : Kensington CAN Barnardos  
14102 CLEMENTS, William1888ENG,     Jul 1899 : Lake Huron CAN Barnardos  
23056 CLEMENTS, William1891ENG,     Apr 1909 : Empress of Britain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys