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Record #18065
Name :
: Robert Dixon TUNBRIDGE (1887 - 1955)


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 31 Aug 1887

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 15 Jan 1955
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, London
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialCanada
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 15 Sep 1895
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Sardinian

Placement Family
: Mr. Morgan
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesFrom Robert's attestation papers: his nearest relative is unknown, he was born in London, England, worked as a mechanic, he enlisted on October 23 1914 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He is listed as 5' 5", blue eyes, fair hair, with a tattoo on his right arm - initial RDT.

Robert married Annie Eliza Simmons on 17 Feb 1915.


From "For the Sake of the Children" by June Rose:

"Robert Tunbridge was sent out at the age of eight in 1895 and boarded with a Mr. Morgan. He was visited regularly. When his mother in England wrote to Stepney complaining that she had had no reply to letters to her son, Barnardo's in Stepney wrote to Barnardo's in Toronto who contacted Robert;s employer to see that "the boy writes to his mother". The farmer and his wife both wrote to the Toronto home with the reassuring news that Robert was "quite well and hearty".

When Robert was ten, a neighbor who lived a quarter of a mile away wrote to the homes with disquieting news "The other night he has seen the employer give Robert a good thrashing", and "his skin was cut with a whip and the blood was shining through. Another neighbor saw him kick the boy with big heavy boots". The home visitor paid a special visit and Robert was found another place. The new employer wrote complaining that they boy was not getting along well: "he lies so that they cannot believe one word he says and is addicted to anything eatable he may come across". His report added: "he is however goodnatured and good company and pleased to see a visitor from the home". Then Robert stole a jack-knife from a nearby store, some money and a ring from his employer's wife. For this the farmer thrashed him and Robert ran off.

Again Robert was apprenticed to a new master. The homes asked 100 dollars for four years' apprenticeship but the employer bargained and got Robert cheap for 90 dollars since he was "scarcely first class". The new employer wrote optimistically that Robert was improving and he "hoped to make a man of him". But again Robert ran away and a letter shortly after carried the alarming news that he held a revolver and threatened to shoot anyone who attempted to take him back to his employer. The employer explained that he had caught Robert a few Sundays ago "in the commission of an unnatural offence with a mare, the same evening he indecently assaulted his employer's little girl. He was thrashed the next morning and ran away."


The obituary of Robert's daughter:

TUNBRIDGE Marjorie Alice (Marnie) September 23, 1921 - December 28,
2008 Beloved Marnie passed away peacefully on December 28th, 2008,
with her family members present, along with her devoted caregiver,
Zane Lowell. She was feisty and fearless right to the end and will be
sorely missed by her family and many friends at St. Andrew's Wesley
United Church. Marnie was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and spent her
early years in Vancouver. She graduated from the University of British
Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts. She then spent a year at the United
Church Training School in Toronto and became a deaconess. Her desire
to work in Japan for the United Church became a reality after studying
the Japanese language in Berkeley, California. Her first posting was
Kanazawa, Japan, then Nagano City, followed by 32 years in Ueda. There
she re-started a small church in the mountains, teaching English and
giving both English and Japanese Bible classes. She opened her home
for a "Sunday School" on Saturday afternoons with children spilling
out to the yard and many mothers asking for Bible teaching. She
touched the lives of thousands of Japanese families with her kindness,
devotion to the church and independent spirit. In 1986, she retired to
Vancouver and plunged herself into activities at St. Andrew's Wesley
United Church, starting up a very popular Seniors Drop-in Centre with
her friend Hazel Harrison. Marnie was the daughter of Robert Dixon
Tunbridge and Annie Eliza Simmons. She leaves a brother, Fen Tunbridge
of Lethbridge, Alberta; a sister, June Hillman of Gibsons, B.C;
nephews Gary and Tony, and nieces Keri and Tracy. Her generosity,
wisdom and pragmatism will be missed by all her family. She will also
be remembered fondly by her very close friend, Enid Horning. A
memorial service will be held Wednesday, January 14th at 11:00 a.m, at
St. Andrew's Wesley United Church, Burrard and Nelson, Vancouver, and
in accordance with Marnie's wishes, it will be followed by a lunch. In
lieu of flowers, donations could be made to the Marnie Tunbridge
Children's Fund, an endowment of St. Andrew's Wesley United Church.
Published in the Vancouver Sun and/or The Province on 1/10/2009 
ContributorsCreated : 2012-11-15 05:04:51 / From original database

Last Updated : 2012-11-15 18:51:22 /

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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  1 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
18065 TUNBRIDGE, Robert Dixon1887ENG, LND Sep 1895 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos