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Record #3923
Name :
: Lavinia Ellen WILLIAMS (1896 - )


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1896

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthWales, Monmouthshire, Newport
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 11 Jul 1911
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Sicilian

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesA birth registration was found for Lavinia Ellen Williams: Year of Registration: 1896; Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec; District: Cardiff (1837-1974); County: Glamorgan, Monmouthshire; Volume: 11a; Page: 463. (Parents: Robert and Lewsia Williams.)

Her father, Robert Williams, was a dockworker, not a wealthy man, but from photos it is apparent the family was clean, well fed and well housed. They lived in one of the many stone row houses that still line the streets of Newport, near Cardiff, Wales. They were Church of England. The children attended school.

On the second of March, 1906, Lavinia's father was struck by a piece of timber at the docks and killed. Her mother was 31 at the time and pregnant with her ninth child. The eldest girls were 11 and 12. There was a year-old baby girl and a little boy of maybe three. Lavinia would have been 10.

In the official report, the Barnardo `relieving officer' spoke of Lewsia Williams as "a striving, respectable woman who elicited much sympathy." The ten shillings a week in relief she got from the parish was paid away in rent. Her attempt at setting up a business with one of her brothers trading in fruits and vegetables failed. Still, she managed to keep the family together for a whole year. It was somebody from the parish who said, `I'm going to see if I can get help for you.' That's when Lewsia was approached by the orphanage.

The lady from Barnardo's must have been as convincing as Lewisa Williams was desperate. Lewsia had no intention of giving up her four middle children permanently; the arrangement was to last only until she could get back on her feet. The two older girls would look after the younger three while she worked.

The family would never be whole again. Someone somewhere in the Barnardo organization made the decision that the four Williams children, ages six to ten, should be included with a group of orphans scheduled to emigrate to Canada.

In 1911, Lavina Williams, 14 (along with sister, Hilda Williams, 13), arrived at Quebec, Canada, with a group of 176 children en route to Peterborough and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

In 1990, her grandniece, Barb Perkins, went to Wales to do more research, people who knew the family described the way it had been ripped apart. They said Lewisa Williams never got over it. Even in her old age, after she had remarried and had a tenth child, she still wept for her four lost children.

In Canada the children were separated. One boy was shot (but survived) trying to run away. One sister seemed to have fared fairly well. The other did not. Barb learned that her grandmother was treated roughly, passing through four different homes.

Eventually the Canadian siblings were reunited and for a time they all lived together as young adults. Relatives in Wales remember receiving packages from them. 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-07-24 20:24:02 / From original database

Last Updated : 2009-02-16 15:04:22 /

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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  101 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
18355 WILLIAMS, A. E.1881ENG,     Apr 1899 : Scotsman CAN Barnardos  
12308 WILLIAMS, Adrian J1930ENG,     Aug 1938 : Strathaird AUS Christian Brothers  
7877 WILLIAMS, Albert1915ENG, LAN, Manchester May 1931 : Laurentic CAN Waifs & Strays  
8331 WILLIAMS, Albert1914ENG, LAN, Liverpool Apr 1928 : Montclare CAN Barnardos  
13940 WILLIAMS, Albert1889ENG,     Mar 1901 : Dominion CAN Louisa Birt  
7482 WILLIAMS, Alfred1866ENG,     Jun 1878 : Sarmatian CAN Middlemore  
21553 WILLIAMS, Alfred M1915ENG,     Jun 1929 : Berrima AUS Barnardos  
23706 WILLIAMS, Alice1898ENG,     Jun 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
18573 WILLIAMS, Anne1887ENG,     Apr 1895 : Sardinian CAN Liverpool Sheltering Home  
6272 WILLIAMS, Annie1896ENG,     May 1910 : Corsican CAN Louisa Birt  
16880 WILLIAMS, Annie1898ENG,     Jun 1911 : Carthaginian CAN Middlemore  
16179 WILLIAMS, Arthur1881ENG,     Apr 1893 : Vancouver CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)  
19920 WILLIAMS, Arthur1887ENG,     Apr 1897 : Labrador CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
19921 WILLIAMS, Arthur1887ENG,     Apr 1897 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
22176 WILLIAMS, Arthur ENG,     Apr 1897 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
22253 WILLIAMS, Arthur1877ENG,     Apr 1897 : Labrador CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
12309 WILLIAMS, Basil W1928ENG,     Aug 1938 : Strathaird AUS Christian Brothers  
20624 WILLIAMS, Beatrice1900ENG,     Oct 1913 : Corinthian CAN Barnardos  
9574 WILLIAMS, Bertie1889ENG,     Sep 1901 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
25097 WILLIAMS, Caroline1899 Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
7603 WILLIAMS, Charlotte1859ENG,     Nov 1870 : Peruvian CAN Maria Rye  
25550 WILLIAMS, Christine May1915 Feb 1924 : Euripides AUS Fairbridge Homes  
9020 WILLIAMS, Constance1893ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Barnardos  
9193 WILLIAMS, Cyril1887ENG, LDN, London Oct 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
25729 WILLIAMS, Daisy1892ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Louisa Birt  
17384 WILLIAMS, Dale1884ENG,     Apr 1901 : Dominion CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)  
20434 WILLIAMS, Delia1894 May 1908 : Corsican CAN Louisa Birt  
12327 WILLIAMS, Derick R1925ENG,     Aug 1938 : Strathaird AUS Christian Brothers  
25549 WILLIAMS, Dorothy Vera1913ENG, HAM, Andover Feb 1924 : Euripides AUS Fairbridge Homes  
5660 WILLIAMS, Edith1896ENG,     Jun 1911 : Carthaginian CAN Middlemore  
14323 WILLIAMS, Edith1888ENG,     Jul 1899 : Montrose CAN Bristol Emigration Society  
25614 WILLIAMS, Edith1898ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Barnardos  
26268 WILLIAMS, Edith Harriet1925ENG, LAN, Liverpool Jan 1937 : Oronsay AUS Fairbridge Homes  
15750 WILLIAMS, Edmund1901ENG,     Jul 1912 : Corsican CAN Catholic Emigration Society  
6718 WILLIAMS, Edward1912ENG, LAN, Liverpool Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
12130 WILLIAMS, Edward1917ENG,     Jun 1928 : Ballarat AUS Fairbridge Homes  
7526 WILLIAMS, Emma1842ENG,     Nov 1869 : Hibernian CAN Maria Rye  
18932 WILLIAMS, Emma1893ENG,     May 1905 : Bavarian CAN MacPherson Homes  
6022 WILLIAMS, Ernest1891ENG,     Oct 1904 : Bavarian CAN Barnardos  
16954 WILLIAMS, Ernest1893ENG,     Mar 1901 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
18356 WILLIAMS, Ernest1888ENG,     Mar 1901 : Dominion CAN Louisa Birt  
14891 WILLIAMS, Ethel1886ENG,     Oct 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
14892 WILLIAMS, Ethel1894ENG,     Jun 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
4892 WILLIAMS, Ethel N1909ENG,    , Fulham Apr 1925 : Montclare CAN Barnardos  
6593 WILLIAMS, Eva 1912WAL,    , Ynysborth Jul 1927 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos  
16502 WILLIAMS, Florence1909ENG,     Sep 1921 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos  
25708 WILLIAMS, Florence1900ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Louisa Birt  
13995 WILLIAMS, Frank1892ENG,     Jul 1901 : Numidian CAN Barnardos  
13956 WILLIAMS, Frederick1888ENG,     1901 : - Unknown - CAN Barnardos  
16879 WILLIAMS, Frederick1898ENG,     Jun 1909 : Carthaginian CAN Middlemore  
6719 WILLIAMS, George1911ENG, LAN, Liverpool Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
7161 WILLIAMS, George1862ENG,     Aug 1871 : Prussian CAN MacPherson Homes  
8330 WILLIAMS, George1913ENG, LAN, Liverpool Apr 1928 : Montclare CAN Barnardos  
18373 WILLIAMS, George1853ENG,     Jun 1869 : Nestorian CAN Clerkenwell Emigration Society  
16128 WILLIAMS, George Max1875ENG,     Apr 1890 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
4727 WILLIAMS, Gilbert Charles John1900WAL, MON, Newport Sep 1907 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
8412 WILLIAMS, Gladys May1906ENG,     Sep 1922 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos  
25488 WILLIAMS, Harold1898ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Barnardos  
16759 WILLIAMS, Henry James1891ENG,     Jul 1902 : New England CAN Barnardos  
16462 WILLIAMS, Herbert Alfred1895ENG, LAN, Liverpool Aug 1908 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
3922 WILLIAMS, Hilda Winifred1898WAL, MON, Newport Jul 1911 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
11931 WILLIAMS, James Richard1913ENG,     1927 : - Unknown - AUS Barnardos  
8636 WILLIAMS, Jane 1910ENG, LAN, Liverpool Jul 1925 : Athenia CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)  
8242 WILLIAMS, John1914ENG,     Sep 1928 : Duchess of Bedford CAN Barnardos  
25775 WILLIAMS, John1894ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Louisa Birt  
13622 WILLIAMS, John D.1878ENG,     May 1887 : Circassian CAN Liverpool Catholic Childrens Protective Society (now Nugent Care)  
22540 WILLIAMS, John Frederick1910ENG,     Mar 1923 : Montcalm CAN Louisa Birt  
11930 WILLIAMS, John William1912ENG,     1926 : - Unknown - AUS Barnardos  
24202 WILLIAMS, Joseph1855ENG,     May 1870 : Ganges CAN Boy's Refuge, Whitechapel, London  
20886 WILLIAMS, Joseph George1913ENG,     Jan 1924 : Baradine AUS Fairbridge Homes  
10769 WILLIAMS, Julia1870ENG,     Jun 1880 : Sarmatian CAN Maria Rye  
3923 WILLIAMS, Lavinia Ellen1896WAL, MON, Newport Jul 1911 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
19809 WILLIAMS, Leonard1900ENG,     Apr 1911 : Tunisian CAN Unknown  
7793 WILLIAMS, Louisa1859ENG,     Jul 1870 : Prussian CAN Maria Rye  
24553 WILLIAMS, Lucy1895 Jun 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
7800 WILLIAMS, Margaret1863ENG,     Jul 1870 : Prussian CAN Maria Rye  
19091 WILLIAMS, Margaret Ann1898ENG,     Sep 1912 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
25615 WILLIAMS, Mary1899ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Barnardos  
3515 WILLIAMS, Mary Ann1895ENG,     Jun 1905 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
7483 WILLIAMS, N.E.H.1872ENG,     Jun 1878 : Sarmatian CAN Middlemore  
20269 WILLIAMS, Nellie1882ENG,     May 1898 : Siberian CAN Middlemore  
20270 WILLIAMS, Nellie1904ENG,     Feb 1914 : Alsatian CAN Louisa Birt  
21505 WILLIAMS, Norman A.1898 Apr 1905 : Kensington CAN Barnardos  
26084 WILLIAMS, Phoebe1875 Jun 1881 : Parisian CAN Middlemore  
16458 WILLIAMS, Robert1884ENG,     Apr 1894 : Sarnia CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)  
4728 WILLIAMS, Robert John1901ENG,    , Newport Sep 1907 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
7570 WILLIAMS, Sarah1859ENG,     Nov 1869 : Hibernian CAN Maria Rye  
7031 WILLIAMS, Susan1863ENG,     Aug 1871 : Prussian CAN Maria Rye  
7484 WILLIAMS, Thomas1866ENG,     Jun 1878 : Sarmatian CAN Middlemore  
21188 WILLIAMS, Victor Howard1912ENG, WOR, Kings Norton Mar 1925 : Demosthenes AUS Fairbridge Homes  
19998 WILLIAMS, Wallace1914ENG,     Mar 1930 : Albertic CAN British Immigration and Colonisation Association  
7146 WILLIAMS, Walter1855ENG,     Aug 1871 : Prussian CAN MacPherson Homes  
22872 WILLIAMS, Wilfred1891ENG,     Apr 1908 : Lake Champlain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
7261 WILLIAMS, William1914ENG, LDN, London Sep 1929 : Duchess of Atholl CAN Barnardos  
7485 WILLIAMS, William1877ENG,     Jun 1879 : Moravian CAN Middlemore  
12440 WILLIAMS, William1893ENG,     Mar 1903 : Canada CAN Barnardos  
13862 WILLIAMS, William1876ENG,     May 1887 : Circassian CAN Liverpool Catholic Childrens Protective Society (now Nugent Care)  
26269 WILLIAMS, William Edward1926ENG, LAN, Liverpool Jan 1937 : Oronsay AUS Fairbridge Homes  
18201 WILLIAMS, William H1873ENG,     Apr 1889 : Sardinian CAN Waifs & Strays  
24977 WILLIAMS, William R.1901 Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
4193 WILLIAMS, Wilson Michael1874ENG, CON, Flushing - Unknown - CAN Unknown  
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
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  101 Entries