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Record #2671
Name :
: Samuel George Thomas DEANES (1877 - 1963)


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 3 Feb 1877

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 7 Mar 1963
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Staffordshire, Wombourn
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialEngland, Uxbridge
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 9 Jul 1894
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Sardinian

Placement Family
: Clipperton
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesOverview of the life of Samuel George Thomas Deanes:

Father:William Deanes died 1910.
Mother:Mary Ann Lewellyn died 1891.
Siblings:Mary Ann born Sept 12,1874 in The Lye,Worchestershire.died Feb. 11 1956 in Stourbridge
1891 UK census: inmate at Gem Street Industrial School,Birmingham.
1894:April 4 admitted to Barnardos
1894: July sent to farm of Benjamin Clipperton, Lakeside,Ontario.
1906: Nov 1, marries Sarah A Butterfield in Toronto.
1915:July 2 enlists with Cdn army in Smith Falls,Ont.Regimental #144587 and is posted to the 7th reserve battalion in Brighton,England as A/RSM.
1917:Nov 29 marries Florence Souch nee Wright,a war widow with 3 children.
1963: March 7,dies at Breakspear House in Uxbridge,England at age 87.


Sam had a very hard and troubled life in late Victorian England between 1877 and 1894 in the large industrial area around Birmingham. Sam was born on February 3,1877 in Wombourn, Staffordshire, the 2nd child of William George Deanes and Mary Ann Llewellyn. His sister Mary Ann Elizabeth was born September 12, 1874 in Stourbridge, Staffordshire.

We know very little so far about his parents. His father William George Deanes was born around 1837 the son of George Deanes. William married Mary Ann Llewellyn on October 21,1872 in Amblecote, Staffordshire at Trinity Church. Mary Ann was the daughter of Richard Llewellyn. She was born about 1839. Mary Ann died when Sam was only 14, on August 2, 1891 of cancer of the liver. She died at the Wordsley Union Workhouse in Kingswinford, Staffordshire.Sam's father died on March 10,1910 of senility and a septic leg at the Aston Union Workhouse in Erdington (Birmingham). At the time of his marriage in 1872 till 1877 his occupation is shown as a nailer or nail maker. At some point after this he must have been injured. From 1877 till his death in 1910 all the records show him as a crippled street musician (he played the violin).

Sometime before Sam's mother died in 1891, he was sent to the Gem Street Industrial School in Birmingham. His father could no longer support him or his sister Mary Ann who was by now employed as a charwoman. After 1891 Sam left the School and started roaming and living on the streets living by any way he could. He was eventually picked up by an agent from the Barnardo child care agency in Cardiff, Wales on April 4,1894. According to the inspector's report, Sam had been living on the streets of Cardiff since November 1893. He did odd jobs and slept in boarding houses when he could afford it, at other times he slept outside.He was sent to the Barnardo Home on Stepney Causeway in London and stayed there till June 28,1894.

The Barnardo agency took young children off the streets of England and with several other British agencies sent about 150,000 children to Canada and Australia as labourers or indentured servants between 1867 and 1939.These children became known as "British Home Children".When Sam was admitted, an agent visited his father who at first was reluctant to have his son admitted to the home. He felt Sam should be returned home to help him. After some coaxing, William Deanes agreed it was in Sam's best interest to remain where he was and he signed the "Canada Clause" which opened the door to having Sam sent "unwillingly" to Canada.

Sam left Liverpool on June 28,1894 aboard the SS Sardinian.He was one of 218 boys sent by Barnardos on that voyage to Canada. They ranged in age from 6 to 20 with most being in their early teens. They arrived in Quebec on July 9, 1894.From here Sam was sent to Lakeside,Ontario between St. Marys and London, to work on the farm of Benjamin Clipperton. His wages on the farm were to be $8.85 ( $16.56 less $7.71 for clothes and necessities) per year. He was also to receive lodging and food. Sam unhappily, worked for the Clipperton's till June 1896 when he left for Belton then London then in April 1897 he was working for a butcher in St. Thomas. He left here with the intention of going to Toronto and somehow returning to England. We lose track of Sam from 1897 till 1906 when he reappears in Toronto.

While researching Sam Deanes, we were quite shocked to find he had an entire family in Canada. We have traced some of this family and have names of Sam's descendants now living in British Columbia.His Canadian wife was still searching for him in 1940 after he abandoned them in 1917.Her name was Sarah Ann Butterfield.

Sarah was born in Lambeth ,England on March 9,1883, the daughter of Thomas Butterfield and Ann Jeal. They along with Sarah's younger brother William, immigrated to Canada in 1889 and first settled in Montreal. Between 1901 and 1906 they migrated to Toronto.Sarah's parents stayed in Toronto where her father (occupation was roofer) died on August 1,1926.

Sam married Sarah on November 1,1906 in Toronto in a civil ceremony.Here is where the false identities start. He gives his birth year as 1881 not 1877. He lists his occupation as "teamster". Sarah and Sam Deanes had 4 children. Two of them died in infancy and are buried at Prospect cemetery in Toronto.

Rosanna Florence Deanes (known as Red) was born in August 1908. She married Thomas McCrorie and died in 1990.

Robert was born in 1911 and died on May 26,1914 of croup and heartfailure.

Harry was born in May 1916 and died on November 18,1918 of pneumonia. Sam never knew of Harry's death because he had already been in England for 1 year at that time.

The 1st born of Sam and Sarah Deanes was Samuel George Deanes Jr. It was his family that we have traced to British Columbia.Samuel was born on June 10,1907. He died on September 30,1976 in West Vancouver BC of congestive heartfailure. He was married to Phyllis Chesney. Judging by the death certificate, the family knew very little about their heritage. The surname is now spelled DEANS and Samuel Jr.'s father is given as George Deans and his mother is Sarah Butterworth both of Scottish descent!! The information for the death certificate was given by Sam Jr's only son Robert who has 2 sons Scott and Mark now living in BC.The details given on the certificate probably came from what Robert recalled being told or from the information given on the 1911 census where once again, Sam falsifies the records and says he is Scottish and was born in 1882. We have the census form taken in Toronto and it gives all the family details correctly except for Sam's.

Samuel Jr. moved to Vancouver in 1970, from documents and newspaper articles dated May 21,1925 we know he and his sister Rosanna were still living at home with their mother Sarah. Sarah was still looking for Samuel Sr. up to 1940 when Barnardo's in England received a letter from her dated November 6,1940 asking if they had heard anything of his whereabouts.She had been looking for him since December 1917 when she stopped receiving letters from him and he disappeared.Sarah (known as Sadie) never remarried and died in Toronto in 1977.

By 1914 Samuel Deanes had spent 20 years in Canada. He never wanted to be in Canada and throughout the documents we see that his goal was to return to England somehow. His chance came with the start of World War 1.We have the military files and enlistment documents for Sam. There are 2 sets of documents which at first seemed to be two different men,but, after going through them both we discovered they were indeed the same person with slight variations. Once again, Sam was covering his tracks. His military record is far from honourable with several promotions and demotions and finally a charge of desertion laid against him.It was this charge of desertion which caused his family in Canada so much grief. In a court case in Toronto in March-May 1925 Sam was deemed officially dead by the Ontario supreme court. This was done so that Sarah and her children could obtain the life insurance ($600) which was bequeathed them in a military will,but was not paid out because Sam was deemed a deserter by the army.In March 1925,the board of control for Toronto also voted against paying a civic insurance claim to the family for the same reason.

There are two sets of enlistment documents for Samuel Deanes.The first set is for Samuel Thomas Deanes dated November 12, 1914 in Toronto. He enlisted with the 20th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He is a private with the service number 1288704. He gives his previous service as 7 years with the Highland Light Infantry.From August 13 till November 12, 1914 he is with the 36th Peel Regiment 4th Battalion until he enlists with the 20th CEF. He gives his date of birth as February 3, 1877 in Womborne, England. His next of kin is his wife Sarah at 100 Tecumseth St. in Toronto. His civilian occupation is "teamster". He is discharged from #2 company of the 20th in Toronto on December 12, 1914 for misconduct. That is the end of his record with the 20th.

The second set of documents are more complete. Between February and March 1915, he is a Sergeant with the 15th battery, 4th brigade of the Canadian Field Artillery. He enlists with the 42nd Regiment in Smih Falls, Ontario by transferring from the 9th battery, Canadian Field Artillery on July 2, 1915. His name is given as Samuel Dean, however, throughout the documents the name appears as Dean, Deans and Deanes. He is given the service number 144587 and the rank of private. He gives his birth date as February 1, 1878 in Stourbridge, England. His next of kin is his wife Sarah at 164 Ontario St. in Toronto. They have 3 children. Samuel age 9, Rosanna age 7 and Harry age 10 months. His occupation is "driver". In August of 1915 he is taken on strength by the 77th Reserve Battalion CEF. On August 17, he is promoted to Company Sergeant Major. In October he was demoted to private. Between November 2 to 23 he is listed as AWOL. On March 27, 1916 he is transferred to the 224 Canadian Forestry Battalion. On April 24, he is again promoted to Company Sergeant Major of E Company. On March 8,1917 he is transferred to the 240th battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. On April 14, he is with A Company of the 240th CEF.

On April 30,1917 he leaves Halifax with the battalion aboard the SS Megantic and arrives in Liverpool England on May 14, 1917. Upon arrival, he is transferred to the 7th Reserve Battalion and posted to Seaford in Sussex, England. It is also on May 14 that he is appointed the rank acting Regimental Sergeant Major. This is verified by a letter from "Barnardo's" which states that "On June 5, 1917 Sergeant Major Samuel Thomas Deanes called at Stepney Causeway today. He says he is married and has a wife and 3 children in Canada. On being asked for his regimental number, he declined to give this as he objects to having his name or photo appear in any magazine or newspaper giving as his reason that he did not wish that his early life should be known as he had his wife and family to think of". This is the start of Samuel Deanes covering his tracks. On June 16, he is reverted back to the rank of private. Between June 26 and August 8, 1917 he is in hospital at Preston Barracks in Brighton. It is here that he meets his future wife Florence Mildred Souch nee (Wright) who worked at the hospital.On November 20th, Samuel is declared illegally absent by the 7th battalion and on December 13,1917 he is taken off strength after being declared by a court of enquiry as a deserter. Sam never saw combat duty while with the Canadian Army.It is interesting that the marriage certificate for Samuel Deanes and Florence Souch (Wright) is dated November 29, 1917 about half way into the time period where he is AWOL.

In 1917 according to his marriage certificate, he was with the 2nd Canadian Division, 4th Infantry Brigade, 21st Eastern Ontario Battalion which was formed around the Kingston Ontario Canada area. He was a railway shunter.Ther have been records found to confirm that information.He later worked as a carter (modern trucker), later a builder then a nightwatchman. He married Florence Souch on November 29, 1917. in Brighton England. Florence was born in 1883 in Brighton England. Her father was Alfred Joseph Charles Wright born on June 8, 1854 in Brighton. He was a photographer in Brighton, her mother was named Hannah Dudley, born in Bedfordshire England on July 13,1854. Florence was previously married to Frederick Souch born on November 18, 1880 in Brighton England. He was killed in action in France on August 10, 1917.

Samuel Thomas Deanes died on May 7, 1963 in Uxbridge England. 
ContributorsCreated : 2009-01-11 19:21:12 / From original database

Last Updated : 2012-02-02 13:01:51 /

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IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
2671 DEANES, Samuel George Thomas1877ENG, STS, Wombourn Jul 1894 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos