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Record #15306
Name :
: Bessie May ALLEN (1888 - 1970)
  aka : Bessie Stewart


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 28 Jul 1888

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 12 Oct 1970   Notes : General Decline
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Hampshire, Winchester

9 Beaconsfield Terrace
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialCanada, Thunder Bay
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 22 Sep 1899
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Arawa

Placement Family
: Coyle; Hinds; McLaughlin; Taylor; Kenned
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
: Winchester Union Workhouse

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesParents: Francis Allen and Jane Galgani, married December 16, 1877, at Congregational Church, Winchester, Southampton, England.

On May 21, 1897, Jane Galgani Allen died at 3 Water Lane, Winchester, Hampshire, England, of Phthisis Pulmonalis.

With their mother's death, the family quickly disintegrated with the younger children and their father eventually ending up in the Winchester workhouse. On July 17, 1899, Bessie and her sister Bertha were taken into care by the Barnardo Home, they lived at "Sweetbriar" cottage. Their guardian was Miss Douglas, daughter of Lady Douglas.

Upon their arrival in Canada the girls were separated although they were allowed one visit.

On December 7, 1899, Bessie was placed with Robert Coyle an apple exporter, in Colborne, Ontario, Canada. He was pleased she could peel potatoes and wash dishes.

On January 21, 1901, Bessie was placed with A S Hinds, merchant, in Colborne, Ontario, Canada, but was returned a month later as he died of typhoid and she wasn't needed.

On February 27, 1901, Bessie was placed in the McLaughlin household in Haydn, Durham, Ontario, Canada, near her sister, but she was returned on November 25, 1901, as they could not manage her.

On December 4, 1901, Bessie was placed with J. H. Taylor, farmer, in Weston, Ontario, Canada, in June he said she was a plump little woman, delicate throat, forward and untruthful but never sulky or insolent--yet in Jul 1902 she was returned as unmanageable.

On July 15, 1902, Bessie was placed with George Kennedy, farmer in Hornby, Ontario, Canada. She left on August 15, 1902, with tonsilitis, and was then placed 19 Aug with Henry Seaton, farmer, Millbrook, Ontario, Canada but she was returned on the 20th as she was feared ill. Bessie was then placed on August 22, 1902, with widow Mrs E. H. Varney, Bloomfield, Ontario, Canada. On October 1, Bessie had tonsilitis and her tonsils were removed on the 7th. She was very ill.

On October 27, 1902, Bessie was back at the Robert Coyle home, but by March 3, 1902, had returned to Barnardos as she had gotten beyond the control of Mrs. Coyle.

On June 2, 1903, Bessie was placed with William Early, farmer, Norval Ontario, Canada, but Mrs. Early wanted to return her as she had been untruthful and undependable. On August 29, 1903, she was placed with Hugh Smith, but by July 23, 1904, Bessie was unhappy with her wages and wanted to return to McLaughlins. She went there during the summer.

In August, 1904, Bessie was still at the McLaughlin farm in Durham, Ontario, Canada. A letter was received by the Home from her sister, Bertha, who feared Bessie was getting wild.

Bessie was in a total of 13 placements before her marriage to Peter Clark Stewart, a recent Scottish immigrant. It is thought that they met at her placement with the McLaughin family at their farm in Durham.

On December 2, 1904, a marriage was registered between Bessie May Allen, 20, domestic farm helper, born in Winchester, England, to Frank Allen and Jane Goygarny; and Peter Clarke Stewart, 25, stone mason, born in Campbelltown, Scotland, to John Stewart and Agnes Clarke. They were married by Rev. Phalen, Presbyterian minister at Blackstock, Ontario, Canada.

Bessie and Peter eventually settled in the northwestern Ontario town of Keewatin where they raised their 13 children: Agnes May Stewart; Beatrice Stewart; Jane Allen Stewart; Bessie May Stewart; Francis Allen Stewart; Mary Stewart; Barbara Stewart; John Robert Stewart; Dorothy Stewart; and two others, still living.

Peter Clarke Stewart died on August 13, 1946, at the age of 66. Bessie May Allen Stewart died at the age of 82 at Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Bessie corresponded with her other siblings back in Winchester over the years but never returned to England. 
ContributorsCreated : 2011-11-10 14:14:16 / From original database

Last Updated : 2014-02-05 17:22:35 /

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