Missing Home Child

[ReeseG]

I believe that James Fitzjohn is my great-grandfather's brother.  However, once. he arrives in Canada, he disappears.  Could he have died on the ship?

Surname: FITZJOHN
Given Names: James
Born: 1866
Gender: Male
Born at: England
Sending or Escorting Organization: Canadian Catholic Emigration Committee
Canadian Distribution Home Name/Address: Ottawa, Ontario
Age at Emigration: 14
Ship Sailed: Sardinian   
Departure Date: 27 OCT 1880
Port of Departure: Liverpool
Arrival Date: 7 NOV 1880
Port of Arrival: Quebec

[AMBLY]

Hello,

The actual manifest for Jas Fitzjohn (incorrectly indexed as Geo Peterjohn) appears have all the ticks indicating he arrived alive in Quebec, as one of 4 boys received into the care of "Father Seddon for ?Ottawa". (I'm not sure of the "Ottawa" bit)

John Kelleher 16, Mich. Mahoney 15, Jas. Fitzjohn 14, Jos. North 12

What parish in UK did your Fitzjohn come from? There is a John Fitzjohn of Whitechapel Union being reported on in 1886-1887. Poignant reading  the reports of the children - many of whom, particularly boys - ran away from their placement homes etc,
https://canadianbritishhomechildren.weebly.com/father-seddon.html

Cheers
AMBLY

[Lisa in California]

I’ve not yet found Jas Fitzjohn, but perhaps these are two of the other fellows?
 
1911 Grand Calumet Township, Pontiac, Quebec
John Kelleher. Born June 1865, England. Age 45. Married. Irish.
Immigration Year: 1880

Quebec Death Register
…born 18 June 1864…


1881 Calumet Island, Pontiac, Quebec
Joseph North. Born 1868, England. Age 13.  Catholic.
In the residence of Rev. Ouellet (Parish Priest) and other individuals

It may be a wild goose chase, but perhaps James also lived in Calumet at some point?

Added:  Welcome to RootsChat!

[ReeseG]

Thank you!  John Fitzjohn is my great-grandfather. 

I think that James was his brother, both were Catholic and sent from the same Workhouse/Orphanage.

I will look at the boys who stayed in Quebec, he may indeed have stayed there as there is no evidence that they made it to Ottawa.

I am go grateful to this community.

[DianaCanada]

Pontiac County is in Quebec but it is not far from Ottawa.

[J.J.]

    Makes me very sad for the young lad, as he probably ran from his situation. The words "In Care" were not always correct for some of these children. Have you sent for the BHC files on the British end of things, for your John ( as William?) or his brother?

Other thread...searching for parents in England:
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=885527.msg7595035

By the way...Welcome to Rootschat, ReeseG. Wish so badly that we could help you with this search.

[polarbear]

Hello ReeseG,

For clarification…

I’m assuming your John also came to Canada? Was his first wife Matilda?

PB

[J.J.]

   This is the basic information about John from the BHC site.
https://www.homechildrencanada.com/registry?id=56974
   The page about James has no more than the ship entry
https://www.homechildrencanada.com/registry?id=56973

[polarbear]

Well, James is certainly well hidden after his arrival in Canada. Had he passed away in Ontario or Quebec there should be a record of it. Name change is always a possibility.

It looks like he wasn’t the only missing boy. I can’t seem to find anything about the 4th boy Michael Mahoney that travelled with him. The other 2, Joseph North and John Kelleher are traceable, as noted earlier.

PB