HOME      FORUM      HELP      SEARCH      
News : The Surname Interests Table (SIT), the Database for Special Interests Groups (DBSIG) and Ancestral Anniversaries
are now "mobile friendlier" more here ...
The RootsChat Reference Library

RootsChat.Com »  RootsChat Reference Library »   Database for Special Interest Groups (DBSIG) »   British Home Children : Quick Search

Record #3891
Name :
: Elizabeth DAVIDSON (1887 - )
  aka : Betty


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1887 (approx.)

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Durham, Gateshead
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 18 Mar 1910
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Tunisian

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
Notes(Parents: Henry Davidson and Caroline Graham.)

In 1891, Elizabeth Davidson, 4 years of age, was shown residing at the West Side of Road, Flint Hill, Dipton, Collierly, Durham, England. Other family members included: Caroline Davidson, 37; Caroline Davidson, 2; Henry Davidson, 38, general laborer; Henry Davidson, 6; James Davidson, 8; John J. Davidson, 16, brick yard laborer; Mary A. Davidson, 11; Pearce Davidson, 1 month; and Rubert Davidson, 13. (Source: 1891 Census of England; Class: RG12; Piece: 4088; Folio 141; Page 52; GSU roll: 6099198.)

Her niece, Fay Braithwaite, relates (in Pier 21 - Canada's Immigration Museum {website}pier21.ca/research/collections/the-story-collection/online-story-collection/british-home-children/):

First of all, I am the daughter of Caroline Davidson and had three brothers. We grew up in a small town near Edmonton, Alberta and our Father died when I was six years old. I knew names of my mother's brothers and sister. James and Elizabeth remained in Ontario, while my mother and her brother Henry came to Alberta, so I met my farm cousins; Alec, Jane, and another brother. I knew my Davidson grandparents had died while the children were young and all my mother would say, the family came to stay with an uncle but would not give a name, other than they lived in Ontario.

Since the work of my husband took us to many areas of Canada and when we lived in Brampton, Ont. In the 1960's, I started to locate my aunt Elizabeth's family. She had been married twice, Culp and Hamilton, and had run the Post Office in the now ghost town of Ballycroy, about 10 miles north of Brampton. History buffs there were able to point me in the direction of finding two cousins, one from each family. Elizabeth's eldest daughter also had a daughter living in Brampton, and her children and my two daughters went to the same high school. It was about this time that I first heard of Home Children and thought my mother might have been one of them, but did not start inquiries until 1997.

I received this information from Barnardo Homes, London , England in 1998:

These four orphan children were admitted temporarily to our Newcastle - Ever Open Door - on an application by the Rev. G. R. Taylor, Vicar of Byker. After a report on the case by our local inspector, they were granted permanent admission to the Homes. James and Henry are thirteen and ten years of age, respectively. Elizabeth and Caroline eight and six.

The facts of the case are few and simple, but sad enough. The parents, Henry and Caroline Davidson were steady, respective working people, who brought up their children well. On 9th January, 1892, the Father, a labourer, died at St. Cuthbert St., Gateshead of bronchitis. The mother and children then went to two rooms at 115, Harvey Street in Byker, and received out-door relief from the parish: the mother, in addition, goes out to work at washing and charring. About two years ago, the mother's health began to fail, and owing to an internal malady, and after getting worse she entered the workhouse infirmary in January last. An operation was preformed, and a tumor removed, and the mother remaining two months in the infirmary was taken home. The operation proved unveiling to save her, and after lingering for a few weeks, she died. The death occurred on the 9th at the above mentioned address. The little home was sold to defray the funeral expenses, and to save from entering the workhouse, Mr. Taylor asked that he might bring these children to our shelter.

Of the six children left surviving, the eldest (Robert) is able to support himself. The next (Mary) is in a very weak state, consequently on long privation and attendance upon her mother. She is about to be sent away by the local Country Holiday Committee for a month, and a situation will probably be found for her afterwards. For the children now admitted no home, or the workhouse was available. They have no relatives, save an aunt and a cousin. Both these persons have done what they could for mother and children in the past, but were not prepared to offer a home to any of the orphans. The aunt declined to do so, and did not even attend the funeral. The cousin has five children of his own. All the children are delicate, but not ailing. They are respectful and well behaved.

Relatives:

Brother, Robert-17, apprentice at a ship yard, 114-Harboy Street, Byker, Newcastle
Sister, 14, at present sheltered by a neighbour
Aunt (maternal) Maria Phillips, wife of a carpenter, New Road, Walker,
Newcastle

The 5th Sept. 1895 - on this date James and Henry were sent to Canada, to Hazelbrae Home, Pererborough, Ont.

The 14th July, 1898 --- on this date Elizabeth and Caroline, aboard the SS Labrador, arriving in Quebec on 23rd(or 25th) July 1898. They also went to Hazelbrae Homes.

(EDITORS NOTE: In 1898, Elizabeth Davidson, 11 (along with her sister, Carolina Davidson, 9), arrived in Quebec, Canada, with a group of 127 Barnardo girls en route to Peterborough, Ontario. In 1901, Elisa Davidson, 15, was shown as a lodger with Louisa Pilgrim and family at Richmond, Richmond and Wolfe, Quebec, Canada. Her date of birth is shown as April 26, 1885, and her immigration year as 1899.) 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-07-14 10:27:34 / From original database

Last Updated : 2009-07-30 09:43:05 /

Family History ResearchersRootsChatters with family connections to Elizabeth DAVIDSON:



 
Readers Comments

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  15 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
18781 DAVIDSON, A. E.1888ENG,     Sep 1899 : Arawa CAN Barnardos  
4471 DAVIDSON, Alex1911SCT,    , Broughty Ferry Jun 1929 : Laurentic CAN Salvation Army  
27553 DAVIDSON, Alfred1871SCT, LKS, Glasgow 1881 : Manitoban CAN Marchmont Homes   
22805 DAVIDSON, Benjamin1864ENG,     Jun 1882 : Sarmatian CAN Unknown  
3890 DAVIDSON, Caroline1889ENG, DUR, Gateshead Jul 1898 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
3891 DAVIDSON, Elizabeth1887ENG, DUR, Gateshead Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
3893 DAVIDSON, Henry1885ENG, DUR, Gateshead Sep 1895 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
3894 DAVIDSON, James1884ENG, DUR, Gateshead Sep 1895 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
27554 DAVIDSON, James1872SCT, LKS, Glasgow 1881 : Manitoban CAN Marchmont Homes   
12979 DAVIDSON, John Cox1883ENG,     Apr 1896 : Scotsman CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)  
15486 DAVIDSON, Louis1897ENG,     Feb 1907 : Victorian CAN Louisa Birt  
25724 DAVIDSON, M1896ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Louisa Birt  
24579 DAVIDSON, Thomas H.1891 Jun 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
6035 DAVIDSON, William1893ENG,     Oct 1904 : Bavarian CAN Barnardos  
12946 DAVIDSON, William James1882ENG,     Apr 1896 : Scotsman CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)