Re: Home Children to Canada

[eeyores4me]

its a shame its not a uniform service I do hope if I send the forms again they send me even more info I am going to try .
Good luck all

[cranstone]

Good luck - let us know how you get on.

Regards

[Leofric]

I have read these posts with great interest.

Could anyone tell me whether these children were given new surnames on leaving for Canada? And whether their birth certificates in the GRO in the UK were altered to match?

[Romilly]

I have read these posts with great interest.

Could anyone tell me whether these children were given new surnames on leaving for Canada? And whether their birth certificates in the GRO in the UK were altered to match?

Hi Leofric,

This certainly wasn't the case with my relatives...but possibly it happened when children were adopted by their host families?

Romilly.

[ChrisM50]

Hello, I'm new to this as I have only just registered with Rootschat. My maternal grandmother was a home child, she never talked about it.
I have also contacted a Canadian group that claims to help, but I have never received so much as an acknowledgment of the request for information that I sent in.
 I was able to find out which ship she came over on, the home children project was a shameful way to treat children..............I have also seen the Lost Children TV show........many were no more than slaves to the people that "bought" them.

[ChrisM50]

the only thing is she has lots of info it tells which homes he was in before he went and lots about him and has photos and everything
So maybe its worth it ,thats if they will let you have them ,they told me I have to prove they never had families of their own for all the reccords.
Might try again as I'd like to know why they were there when their mother was alive ?

What group was the application for information sent to please? If it's different from the one I used I might try it as well. It would be worth the money if I can get past the block on my grandmother's side of the family tree!

[J.J.]

hello, Chris...and welcome to rootschat...

We have found many home children's families over the years...so if you need more information on her , we can try and help...If further into the last century, it would be very hard,  but we will do our best to help  ....At the very least it will be posted for others also searching...and we also add them to a list of Home Children here on Rootschat

Just go back to the top left and hit the Emigrants to Canada ...then start a new topic... Just put Home Child and a surname into the subject line and tell us a bit of what you know & what you need to know....( no names of the living, please)
Not all home children were treated horribly, although many were. Some found love and happiness and new families...as some were treated far worse back home...

all the best,  J.J.

[cristobel]

Hello,

I've been reading this thread with great interest and thought I'd let you know my recent experience with Barnardos.

I recently wrote to Barnardos regarding British Home children sent to Canada & also Australia. I was particularly interested in two out of 6 orphaned children - siblings.   One to Canada & one to Aust.  The main thing I wanted to know was where they were sent i.e. orphanage / farm etc.
I provided heaps of information, including background info in UK census, the date & ship when one of them was sent to Canada,  and then copies of marriage, & death certs and photos of their wedding and their families.  All I got back was a letter asking me to fill out a form with the child's details and if they had any info they would let me know and also how much it would be and THEN I could write back and instruct them to go ahead.           One form per child - no information would be provided about siblings.  And as mentioned in previous posts, I had to provide documentation to prove next-of-kin etc.

I dont mind paying, but I was hoping that because I'd given them a fair bit, they might have been kind and provided me with the new place of residence of the two orphans.  That was my particular request.  Oh well - you win some, you lose some. 

OK - got that off my chest.    

Cheers from Chris

[cranstone]

Hello everyone

Leofric - hello - my people didn't change their names when they went to Canada.

It seems it might be who you get at Barnanrdo's to whether you pay or not.  I was also told one form per child and £100 for each of their records,  making it £200 - I haven't sent for them as it is a lot of money and also one of mine was only with Barnardo's for a matter of months which makes me wonder just how much information they have on him that's worth £100.   I have asked how much information they have or how many pages but although they have the files they cannot tell me!

It is interesting to her other people's views.

Kind regards