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Record #4488
Name :
: William Douglas GREGORY (1892 - )


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 7 Jul 1892

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Lancashire, Manchester

Miles Platting
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 26 Mar 1909
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Canada

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: National Childrens Home
NotesParents: Emily Ellam Carter and Richard Gregory, married in Manchester, England, in 1881.

In 1891, the family resided at 1 Maudala St., Miles Platting, Manchester. Children: Jane, Jessie, Annie, Richard, Elizabeth, William, John and Walter.

In 1901, William Gregory, 8 years of age, was shown residing at 1 Magdala Street, Newton, North Mancester, Lancashire, England. Other family members included: Annie Gregory, 15; Elizabeth Gregory, 10; Emily Gregory, 42; Jane Ann Gregory, 18, piecer in woollen room; Jessie Gregory, 16, thristle winder cotton mill; John Gregory, 6; Richard Gregory, 49, bottler (brewery); Richard Gregory, 13; Walter Gregory, 3. (Source: 1901 Census of England; Class: RG13; Piece: 3760; Folio: 114; Page: 10.)

William Douglas Gregory was placed at the National Childrens Home in Edgworth, Lancashire, England in 1902, after he left home at a very young age because of his abusive father. The home was located in the north west of England and was built on the moors. At Edgworth, the children were taught farming. His father then died of chronic bronchitis, leaving his mother with 8 children.

In 1909, William Gregory, 16, arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in a group of 64 children from the National Childrens Home en route to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

A letter from William's mother to Mr. Hills in 1910 states she still did not have much money. Her daughters were not working very much.

In 1911, William Gregory, 19, was shown as a boarder with Julia Aple at 455 Ontario, Stratford, Ontario, Canada. His date of birth was shown as January 1892 and his immigration year from England as 1911.

William Gregory went to work on the Burlington Bridge. His application form for this job asked for work experience and he wrote:

"...from April 1909 until 1912 I worked on a farm. I worked for F.L. Culver for two years at Waterford. I worked for T.D. Harrison for one year at Stoney Creek."

William seemed to be close to Mr. and Mrs. Hills at Dr. Stephenson's home in Hamilton, Ontario (Mr. Hill was the governor of Dr. Stephanson's home in Hamilton). William lent his friend Charle Vokes $250.00 with an agreement to pay back as soon as Charle got that large sum of money he was waiting for. Mr. Hills checked this agreement. Charlie never did pay back all the money.

In 1914 (when William was 21 years of age), he wrote to Mr. Hill that he had his own bank account and asked that Mr. Hill deposit the money he has earned into his account. He made $20.00 a month at this time.

On August 29, 1915, William wrote to Mr. Hills from Saskatchewan. He talked about going to Winnipeg for the winter but changed his mind and came back to Hamilton.

"Aug 29, 1915
Dear Mr. Hills:

We have settled at last after a lot of trouble and adventure. The farmers have more men than they require. We had to walk twenty miles
for this job. The wages are poor, we get 2.50 a day. I will take your
offer and be back for Nov 1. I will write you later.

Remain yours
Respectfully,
W. Gregory

William's next job in Saskatchewan was 3.50 a day. He wrote to Mr. Hill, "Money is here." William received .50 more than the other fellows because he had the job of spike pitching.

On February 9, 1916, at Burlington, Halton, Ontario, Canada, a marriage was registered between William Douglas Gregory, 22, munition worker, born Manchester, England, to Richard Gregory and Emily Carter; and Winnifred Mary Ellen Andrews, 27, born Portsmouth, England, to William Charles Andrews and Millicent Albertina Andrews.

Winifred Mary Ellen Andrews was placed in Muellers Orphanage in Bristol after her parents died. She was orphaned at a very early age, along with her half-brother Arthur. She came to work "in service" at the age of 21 on the ship Victorian which arrived at Quebec, Canada, on May 20, 1910. She arrived in a group of 25 young persons. Her half-brother, Arthur, fought in World War I in the 2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment, stationed at Poona, India. He wrote her a poignant letter in 1914:

"...I am very likely to get killed in Getwin?, and then you will be all by yourself. I know you would miss me, but I am sure you would be brave, because you would know that I was safe from all further trouble.

Another thing is this. You would like your Brother to be a man and die like one. You would despise me if you had a coward for a Brother. I am sure you would not like to live and have to know that I was mean enough to live and be a disgrace. I want you to bear in mind Winnie, that I am going to try and show that a God fearing man can do his duty and die like a Soldier and a man. I may come back and if I do you will find your Brother will not disgrace the name you own. ..."

Arthur was captured at Kut al Amara in 1916, where it is presumed he died. Winifred never heard from him again.

On March 16, 1916, at Burlington, Ontario, Canada, William Gregory, 22, enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces (Service No. 663538). He declared that he resided in Burlington, Ontario, Canada; that he was born in Manchester, England; that his next of kin was his wife, Winnie Gregory, who resided at Burlington, Ontario, Canada; that his date of birth was July 7, 1892; and that he was a machinist. He was described as 5 foot 8-1/2 inches in height; fair complexion; blue eyes; light hair. He was a member of the Baptist faith. 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-10-29 16:45:30 / From original database

Last Updated : 2009-01-24 10:28:34 /

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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  17 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
7726 GREGORY, Annie E. 1855ENG,     Jul 1870 : Prussian CAN Maria Rye  
15400 GREGORY, Arthur1880ENG,     May 1893 : Sardinian CAN Rev. William J. Pady  
22395 GREGORY, Benjamin1890ENG,     May 1898 : Parisian CAN Southwark Catholic Emigration Society  
24161 GREGORY, Daniel1852ENG,     May 1870 : Scandinavian CAN Boy's Home Great Queen Street, London  
26073 GREGORY, Ellen1876 Jun 1881 : Parisian CAN Middlemore  
27053 GREGORY, Ernest1917ENG, YKS, Sheffield Oct 1928 : Beltana AUS Fairbridge Homes  
14227 GREGORY, Eva1885ENG,     Jul 1900 : Tunisian CAN Catholic Emigration Society  
25735 GREGORY, Florence1895ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Louisa Birt  
13633 GREGORY, Hannah1907ENG,     Sep 1921 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos  
20541 GREGORY, Henry Charles1874 Mar 1887 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
7674 GREGORY, Matilda1858ENG,     Nov 1870 : Peruvian CAN Maria Rye  
6086 GREGORY, Rachel1897ENG,     Aug 1909 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
26072 GREGORY, Sarah1873 Jun 1881 : Parisian CAN Middlemore  
16708 GREGORY, Sidney Lee1875ENG,     Jun 1888 : Sarmatian CAN Barnardos  
14003 GREGORY, William1887ENG,     Sep 1901 : Parisian CAN Canadian Catholic Emigration Committee  
26043 GREGORY, William1874 Jun 1881 : Parisian CAN Middlemore  
4488 GREGORY, William Douglas1892ENG, LAN, Manchester Mar 1909 : Canada CAN National Childrens Home