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Record #4133
Name :
: George WAKELING (1889 - 1975)


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 3 Sep 1889

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: Mar 1975
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 6 Apr 1902
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Dominion

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesIn 1891, George Wakling, 3 years of age, was residing at the Babies Castle Home for Destitute Children, Hawkhurst, Kent, England. (Source: 1891 Census for England; Class: RG12; Piece: 695; Folio 171; Page 6; GSU roll: 6095805.)

In 1901, George Wakling, 11, was shown residing as a foster child to Isaac and Ann Kemp at Clay Hill, Goudhurst, Kent, England, along with another foster child, Frank Lacey, 8. (Source: 1901 Census of England; Class: RG13; Piece: 776; Folio: 30; Page: 17.)

In 1902, George Wakling, 13, arrived at Portland, Maine, USA, along with a group of 199 Barnardo children en route to Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

George was placed on farm of Mr. Orlando Arner of Arner, Ontario as part of his Barnado obligations until 1907.

Between 1907 and 1909 he went to work as farm hand at the farm of Mr. Robert Beacom (and later same farm operated by son Stanley Beacom) in Leamington on and off for a couple of years. He also did seasonal work at Heinz Pickles, Imperial Tobacco and a restaurant all in Leamington. George also played in a Leamington Band.

George mentions in his autobiography visiting old friends from time at the Arner farm, including Mr. and Mrs. William Heath of Arner in about 1909. The Heath's gave him letter of introduction to a family in Windsor and he set out about 1909 to Windsor to find steady work.

On January 21, 1918, George Arthur Wakeling, 28, was drafted into the Canadian Armed Forces. He declared that he resided at 1076 Mable Street, London, Ontario, Canada; that he ws born December 11, 1889; that he was born in Essex County, England; that he was single; that he was a member of the Church of England; that his next of kin was Mrs. Emily Bentley, his cousin, who also resided at 1076 Mable Street, London, Ontario, Canada; and that he was a carpenter. He was described as 5 foot 4 inches in height; dark complexion; grey eyes; brown hair. He was injured twice and the local paper in Leamington printed a story about his meeting Princess Alice for the second time as a veteran (the first time was when he was recovering from injuries during World War I.)

On July 3, 1923, at Leamington, Essex, Ontario, Canada, a marriage was registered between George Wakeling, 29, elevator man, born in England to Albert Wakeling (mother's name unknown); and Aretta P. Ford, 21, born in Canada to William Albert Ford and Alice Matilda Jones.

George worked at the Windsor Ford plant from about 1928 until his retirement in 1958. At the time of his retirement, he was residing in Leamington.

In 2000 an article appeared in the Upper Canadian (an antiques newspaper) about a folk artist named George Wakeling. The article explained how 20 pieces of wood carving, sketchbook and a handwritten autobiography were coming up for sale at an antique show. The article was based on the auto biography and chronicled the life of Geo. as a Barnardo child, his life and wood carvings and even provided a photo. Also in the manuscripts was a letter from Barnardo's stating George's birth date Sept. 3, 1889, mother's name Ellen Wakling and father's name not known.

George's auto-biography describes in detail his life before coming to Canada including a very loving foster home in Goudhurst, Kent with the Kemp family and his life in Canada and even his first meeting with a sister Nellie in 1907 who also came to Canada and married a Home child named Walter Brewer.

George Wakeling died in March 1975. Aretta Ford died about 1965. 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-09-02 16:31:02 / From original database

Last Updated : 2009-02-01 16:30:04 /

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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
4856 WAKELING, Frederick 1911ENG, ESS, Billericay Apr 1925 : Montclare CAN Barnardos  
4133 WAKELING, George1889ENG,     Apr 1902 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
27080 WAKELING, Maurice1915ENG, BKM, Wycombe Oct 1928 : Beltana AUS Fairbridge Homes