Alfred Joseph Mellett - Why Emigrate?

[dpatterson25]

Hi,
I am researching my family tree and noticed that my great uncle, Alfred Joseph Mellett (b. Dec 1903 @ Northampton) emigrated to Montreal, Canada during May 1920 on the RMS Melita.  His intended occupation was electrical engineer in Montreal.

Could anyone help me understand why a 16 yr old would emigrate on his own to Canada in 1920?  Was there any financial incentive to do so after WW1?  Does anyone have any details of what he did on arriving in Canada?

Regards.

[JDC]

Hi dpatterson,

There are many reasons why people move to any destination  - both attraction to a destination (Montreal in yourg-uncle's case) and those factor that pushed  him away (ie joblessness at home). Montreal in the 1920s was one of the 2 largest cities in Canada.  Montreal's economy was very good at the time, the city was an exciting place to be (particularly for young people), or a combination of other things he thought would be worth moving for. Perhaps he planned to move with one or more of his friends. It appears from your description that becoming an engineer in in Montreal was more likely than where he left and/or with better wages. These and many other reasons could have played in your g-uncle's decision to go to Montreal. Without him telling someone his reasons for the move, it would be very difficult to know why he moved. Is there another relative that he may have told, brother/sister or nephew/niece? Did he send letter(s) to anyone that would indicate why?

As to what he did when he arrived and where he lived upon arrival is difficult to find out since the 1921 census has not been released yet. However, you may want to contact a local or the provincial geneaology groups in Montreal to help you out, here are a couple of websites to check out:
http://www.sgcf.com/
http://maps.google.ca/maps/place?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=genealogy+montreal&fb=1&gl=ca&hq=genealogy&hnear=Montreal,+QC&cid=164071689776688472

There will be a bit of a block when dealing with genealogy in Quebec. That is the lanuage of French being the primary language there. However, I would think most people there will do thier best to overcome this barrier to help you.

I hope this helps you,

JDC

[jorose]

http://bibnum2.bnquebec.ca/bna/lovell/
Lovell's directories of Montreal don't seem to have him in 1921/2 or 1925/6 ,1930/1
Perhaps he moved on.

http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e145/e003608307.jpg
 - I can't quite read here the remark (possibly made in pencil) on the right hand side which might be a lead.

[polarbear]

It looks to me like he is going to his Uncle, a Mr Minn? (difficult to make out the name). I have had a quick look in the directories for 'Minn' without success. The Form 30A related to his trip is almost totally illegible.

Added: looks like the adress for this uncle might be 210 Guy Street.

And: I looked at 210 Guy Street and found an Alf Mann living there. Might this be a name you recognize?

Polarbear

[dpatterson25]

Thanks Polar Bear,
His mother's maiden name was Mann who had a brother (also named Alfred) who had a wife named Louise.  In 1901 Alfred Mann was still living in Northampton employed as a Foreman Boot Finisher.  By 1920 he would have been about 50 years old.
Regards,
Dale