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Record #12645
Name :
: Elizabeth May SMEES (1890 - )
  aka : May


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: Nov 1890

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Hampshire, Portsea
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 2 Oct 1903
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Dominion

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesTSS Dominion that brought Elizabeth May Smees to her new life in Canada?s fair land in September 1903.

The "Dominion" of 1899 was built in 1893 by Harland and Wolff of Belfast as the "Prussia" for the German Hamburg - America Line. She was a 5965 gross ton ship, length 445.5ft x beam 50.2ft, one funnel, four masts, twin screw and a speed of 14 knots. Accommodation for 60-1stclass and 1,800-3rd class passengers. She was launched on November 11, 1893 but her completion was delayed by a strike (they even had them in those days!) and she didn't leave Hamburg on her maiden voyage to Havre and New York until June 24,1894. She stayed on this service until her last voyage on February 6 1898 when she was sold to the British Dominion Line and renamed "Dominion". She was rebuilt with a tonnage of 6618 tons and accommodation for 200-1st, 170-2nd, and 750-3rd class passengers and commenced sailing Liverpool-Quebec-Montreal on May 7,1898. In 1908 she went to the American Line, was further altered to carry 370-2nd and 750-3rd class passengers and was put onto their Liverpool-Philadelphia service until May 1915. She did some intervening Dominion Line sailings and in 1918 did her first voyage after the Armistice from Liverpool to Portland on December 2, 1918. In the autumn of 1919 she was used as a cargo ship only and on February 26, 1921 she made her last trip from Liverpool to Portland and was scrapped in Germany in 1922. (North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1)

It looks as though her stay at Hazelbrae was only a very short affair. For Elizabeth found herself living, in 1904, with Mr & Mrs Freeman at Merrickville, Ontario, Canada.

She is then found on the 1911 Census in Leeds, Ontario. The return is a little difficult to decipher but May is working as a domestic for a Scottish couple whose forenames are Wallas & Mary. It looks as though she only worked 12 weeks in 1910 & had a total income of $42. Her normal working week was 60 hours & she could read & write.

2 years later, Elizabeth married Daniel Snow on the 01 Oct 1913 at the Rectory, Welland, Ontario. He was the son of Daniel Snow and Louisa Turner. Daniel was born on the 01 Oct 1882 in Reading, Berkshire, England. He was a fellow native Englishman. Daniel had been living in Welland since the 1st September 1910. He was 5 foot 5 inches tall & had brown eyes & hair, with a fair complexion.

Daniel joined the 98th Battalion of the Canadian Overseas Expeditory Force on the 16th January 1916 to serve in World War 1. At this time the Snow family was living at 58 First Street, Welland, Ontario. His civilian occupation was an Engine Driver. He had previously served 12 years in the Rifle Brigade before joining the Canadian Overseas Expeditory Force.

The last mention that I have found regarding Daniel & Elizabeth (who became known as May) Snow was in the Niagara Falls Gazette, Saturday 2 October 1937. An article entitled Make Plans For Falls Activities. This mentioned that guests, this week of Mr & Mrs Daniel Snow were Mr & Mrs A Smees & son, Roy, of Hamilton, Mr & Mrs C Snow & daughter Gladys, of Norwich, Mr & Mrs Arthur Snow & daughter Dorothy, of Galt, & Mr & Mrs Albert Snow & son, Grant, of Thorold township.

Elizabeth May Smees is the most elusive of my group of British Home Children. I haven?t been able to trace her more than this (But I live in hope) 
ContributorsCreated : 2010-08-09 05:10:00 / From original database

Last Updated :

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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  3 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
12645 SMEES, Elizabeth May1890ENG, HAM, Portsea Oct 1903 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
12644 SMEES, Lily Louisa1889ENG, HAM, Alverstoke, Gosport Jul 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
12646 SMEES, William Robert1893ENG, HAM, Portsea Mar 1903 : Canada CAN Barnardos