Cedric Arthur Nicholls, BHC 1931, Woodstock, Ontario

[elvisthelurcher]

Hi, I have just discovered that my Great Uncle, Cedric Arthur Nicholls, was a British Home Child.

He arrived in Quebec on the 25.05.1931, aged 14. He sailed from Liverpool on the Antonia.
The immigration records say that his destination was;

'The Salvation Army Receiving Home'
Burnside 808,
Dundas Street,
Woodstock,
Ontario.

I have no further information on him. I was wondering if there is any way that I could find out what happened to him once he got to Woodstock. I am assuming that any records kept by the Receiving Homes are long gone?

Any information on how I could go about finding out more on Cedric would be great.

He doesn't appear on the BHC database on this website, I can add his details if that's ok with the moderators?

Many thanks,

Matt

[JDC]

Hi elvis,

I would contact the Woodstock Public library from lookup for him in telephone directories and newspaper notices as well as the local museum (don't recall the name or street it is on at the moment) for home children info for the area.

Hope that helps,

JDC

[JDC]

Hi Matt,

I found these in Ancestry. I am unsure if this is your ancestor but is right name and area - Woodstock is in Oxford Co..

Canada, Voters Lists, 1935-1980

Cedric Nicholls    1945    Oxford, Ontario    Oxford    
Cedric Nicholls    1962    Oxford, Ontario    Oxford    
Cedric Nicholls    1963    Oxford, Ontario    Oxford    
Cedric Nicholls    1965    Oxford, Ontario    Oxford    
Cedric Nicholls    1968    Oxford, Ontario    Oxford

Hope this helps,

JDC   

[*Sandra*]

The Canada Voters List entries for Cedric Nicholls (occupation carpenter) cover different address in Oxford Ontario and include a wife Erie Nicholls.

OCFA show these 2 possibly entries

Erie C. Nichols - St Charles Anglican Oxford Dereham OX-20
C. S. {Jim} Nicholls -  St Charles Anglican Oxford Dereham OX-20

The "S" may be "slim" - so he could have been nicknamed "slim-jim" and Jim may not be part of his original name 

http://ocfa.islandnet.com/ocfa-search.php

Sandra

[alanmack]

Hi Matt,
           . . .  and a belated welcome to RootsChat.

He doesn't appear on the BHC database on this website, I can add his details if that's ok with the moderators?

Please do enter your BHC's details. Just click on the Add Record button on the BHC Homepage . When you've put on what you already know just click the Save Record button at the bottom. Oh, and don't forget the Relative Link button (bottom right) as you're related.

Lookin' forward . . .

alanmack (one of the BHC data co-ordinators)

[J.J.]

Erie Caroline Nicholls  died Jan 15 2003 London, Ontario ...Didn't find Cedric, sorry...
https://www.ogs.on.ca/oxford/OBIT_Index_Surnames_MtoZ.pdf

[*Sandra*]

Many years have passed since your post so you may or may not have this information to determine if this Cedric is yours ?


The husband of Erie Caroline Cowan was Cedric S "Jim" Nicholls - the middle initial "S" was Sylvester.
Not quite the same as the Cedric Arthur Nicholls you enquired about.  Whether this is the same chap ?
The birth year would also vary - 1912 and born India - another variation ?

FIND A GRAVE

Saint Charles Anglican Cemetery
Springford, Oxford County Municipality, Ontario.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/225791595/cedric_s-nicholls

a daughter - Lenora Anne Nicholls Rankine - passed 2018 (obit date 6 October 2021)- bit of a bio on find a grave - will send you the details of the obit.  The obit indicates another sibling

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/239386208/lenora_anne-rankine

Erie Cowan/Nicholls is also here:-

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/225791604/erie-c-nicholls

Sadly there were a couple of premature/still births for the couple. 

Marriage 1941

Cedric Sylvester Nicholls - 1913 India  (?)  Aged 28 years
Marriage Date   22 Mar 1941
Marriage Place   Tillsonburg, Oxford, Ontario, Canada
Spouse   Eric Carrline Cawan
Father    William Nicholls
Mother    Anne Maude Galland.

Sandra

[polarbear]

Interesting change of names. And place of birth.

It looks like mother’s maiden name is actually Yalland.

Cedric Arthur Nicholls
MMN Yalland
Mar qtr 1917
Newport M (Monmouthshire, Wales)


Marriage of parents…
William Nicholls
Annie Maud Yalland
Jun qtr 1904
Newport M (Monmouthshire, Wales)

Cedric is in the 1921 census in Newport with his parents. Born Newport, Monmouthshire.

Cedric Arthur and Cedric Sylvester appear to be the same person.

PB

[elvisthelurcher]

Thank you both for your replies, it's been a while, and the trail was pretty cold!

Cedric's mother was indeed Annie Maud Yalland. I have a copy of the passenger manifest from 1931 when he sailed to Quebec on the Antonia.

The name change does seem strange and he definitely wasn't born in India, but the slightly less exotic Newport, Wales! The mystery continues!

Would you know if any BHC records still exist from that time?

Many thanks