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Record #15304
Name :
: Frederick Walter Charles SHORT (1900 - 1962)
  aka : Frederick Walter Shortt


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 15 Dec 1900

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 3 Jul 1962
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Hampshire, Isle of Wight
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 24 Jul 1909
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Sicilian

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

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesA birth registration was found for Frederick Walter C Short: Date: Jan 1901; District: Isle of Wight; County: Hampshire, Isle of Wight; Volume: 2b; Page: 585. Parents: Walter John Short and Ada Coleman, married 1896 in Stoneham, Hampshire, England.

A death registration was found for Walter John Short: Date: Jul-Aug-Sep 1905; Age: 48; District: Isle of Wight; County: Hampshire; Volume: 2b; Page: 353

In 1909, Frederick Short, 8, arrived at Quebec, Canada, in a group of 72 Barnardo children en route to Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

On May 18, 1921, at Bracebridge, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, a marriage was registered between Frederick Walter Charles Short, 21, laborer, born in Southampton, England, to John Shortt and Mary Brown; and Alice Victoria Greer, 18, farmers daughter, born in Watt, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, to John Greer and Roselie Crowder.

Frederick Shortt and Alice Victoria Greer had at least 5 children: Freda Shortt; Milton Shortt; Margaret Shortt born about 1944; Lawrence Shortt; and Mervin Shortt.

Frederick Walter Charles Shortt died July 3, 1962. Alice Victoria Greer Shortt died April 7, 1986.

A song, written by Marion Parsons, told the story of Frederick Shortt, as relayed to a friend by his son. The song is set to the melody of ?Tramps and Hawkers?:

The waves that took my father?s ship left us a desperate house
Twas more than mother could hope to do to fill three empty mouths
My brother, he was too young to part, my sister was too dear
It fell on me to play the man, and I in my sixth year.

My mother said, ?It won?t be far, twill be just for a while.
Be good, be strong, and say your prayers, just like on dear Wight Isle.?
She packed my clothes and my Testament, I put aside my toys
And knocked upon the doorway of Barnardo?s Home for Boys.

How little did my mother know
When she begged me, ?Fred, don?t cry,?
The waves would carry me off as well
That this was our goodbye.

Those lonely months on the mainland, my home and friends I missed
Until the day I found my name at the head of the Canada list
I?d go across the ocean wide to be a farmer?s ward
And sell my small hands? labour for my schooling, bed, and board.

They brought me pen and paper the morning that I sailed
My news and my fondest wishes to family then were mailed
With a trunk and blessing for each of us, we queued up at the dawn
To board that good ship?s steerage, and set off for Saint John.

How little did my mother know
When she led me from her door
My fortune lay in Canada
I?d ne?er see England more.

We rode the train to Toronto town, amazed by miles of trees
The farmers came from all around to pick what boy they?d please
I went to a St. Thomas farm, where I spent some decent years
Until my boss sold off his land, left me with nought but tears.

My next boss lived in Utterson, George Truesetter by name
I worked like hell to earn my keep, but got his belt and blame
His children all went off to school, but I was left behind
The cows and pigs I tended were the best friends I could find.

How little did my mother know
When she gave me to their care
The lands that I would travel in
The burdens I would bear.

As soon as I was old enough I took my clothes and pay
And married sweet little Alice Greer, one bright and blessed day
We built a house on her parents? land, right here by Skeleton Lake
We cleared the trees and bred the stock for all our children?s sake.

My boys work hard and do their share, but I won?t let them miss school
My girls will never be lone or shamed, though they don?t know wealth or jewel
And as for me and my Alice, well, we?re better off than then
These walls are humble but they?re my own, I?ll never leave again. 
ContributorsCreated : 2011-11-09 12:58:34 / From original database

Last Updated : 2012-10-30 23:08:34 /

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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  14 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
7458 SHORT, Edward1867ENG,     Jun 1878 : Sarmatian CAN Middlemore  
25485 SHORT, Frederick1899ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Barnardos  
15304 SHORT, Frederick Walter Charles1900ENG, HAM, Isle of Wight Jul 1909 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
12065 SHORT, James1912ENG,     Jan 1927 : Ballarat AUS Barnardos  
27076 SHORT, Lionel1915ENG, LND Oct 1928 : Beltana AUS Fairbridge Homes  
3743 SHORT, Mary Ann Elizabeth1896ENG, WAR, Birmingham Jun 1902 : Siberian CAN Middlemore  
3742 SHORT, Minnie Beatrice1896ENG, WAR, Birmingham Jun 1902 : Siberian CAN Middlemore  
26262 SHORT, Reginald Melvyn1927ENG, DEV, Bideford Jan 1937 : Oronsay AUS Fairbridge Homes  
20912 SHORT, Robert1897ENG,     Sep 1913 : Cassandra CAN Unknown  
18106 SHORT, RUPERT1891ENG,     Jul 1903 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
3744 SHORT, Sydney1889ENG, WAR, Birmingham Jun 1902 : Siberian CAN Middlemore  
17744 SHORT, Thomas1893ENG,     Jun 1903 : Siberian CAN Middlemore  
18180 SHORT, Thomas1875ENG,     Jun 1888 : Sarmatian CAN Waifs & Strays  
23353 SHORT, Wilfred James1894ENG, LDN, London Apr 1913 : Lake Manitoba CAN Fegan Homes for Boys