Missing Home Child

[ReeseG]

Hello ReeseG,

For clarification…

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

PB

Hiya!  John Fitzjohn also came to Canada from St Mary's Orphanage and married Mathilda who is my great-grandmother.  I am not sure why the boys were separated or why James disappears.

[eileenwilson]

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!

Just chasing John Kelleher ... he's in Pontiac County, Quebec in the 1901 Census; born England, Roman Catholic, immigrated in 1880.  Married with children.  Married in 1894, parents unknown (according to church marriage record). Witnesses are Daniel Davis & Lizzie-Ann Donnelly.

[eileenwilson]

Joseph North never marries. Found in Ancienne Lorette, Quebec after the 1891  Census. Birthplace varies between Quebec and England (1931 Census).  Immigrated 1880.

[ReeseG]

Thank you!  I am going to look in that area!

[polarbear]

Hello again,

Still no sign of James after his arrival in Canada but there is a bit more info about him back in England. It looks like he may have known Michael Mahoney before they were sent oversees.

A bit about Michael first….

Michael was admitted to Stepney Workhouse 27 Apr 1869 age 4
Parish Whitechapel
Orphan
Child of Dennis a Cigar Maker
From 5 Guolston St (sp?)
Catholic
Discharged to Forest Gate School 07 Apr 1869 (this date doesn’t make sense…should perhaps be May)

Admitted to Stepney Workhouse from Forest Gate School 16 June 1869 age 5
Discharged to RC School Brentwood 21 June 1869 with a group of boys, but no James.

A group of 6 boys was admitted to Stepney Workhouse from Hammersmith 14 Dec 1871.
Among them…

James Fitzjohn age 6
Michael Mahoney age 7
Parish Whitechapel
Catholic
Discharged 26 Jan 1872 to F G S (assumed Forest Gate School)

About 4 weeks later, 28 Feb 1872, a group of 5 boys was brought up to Stepney Workhouse from Forest Gate School to be transferred to St Vincent’s School (RC) Westminster.
Among them…

James Fitzjohn age 6
Michael Mahoney age 7
They were discharged out 29 Feb 1872 (a leap year)

So it appears that James and Michael knew each other prior to sailing for Canada. Hasn’t helped find James in Canada yet…he is very well hidden. But a bit more info.

PB

Added:
A Michael Mahoney is in Brentwood Essex in the 1871 census.
Part of a large group of boys in the orphanage.
He is down as age 3 but there is a note that says precise ages of the children are unknown. 3 other boys he will eventually be sent to St Vincent’s with are also here (same names so assume same boys).
So looks likely he is the same Michael.

[J.J.]

Well done P.B. (& everyone else) ♡ ♥ ♡ Always looking out for the BHC ♡ ♥ ♡

Having looked for ages, James Fitzjohn remains elusive.
 While searching for both, this Michael Mahoney
 (One of several found) looks pretty interesting!
However, it is NOT absolutely certain without relatives in Eng.to confirm.
PLUS- Only the father's name matches PolarBear's finds
Michael Mahoney is WAY too common a name in London alone

This proximity intrigued me- just south of the border from the other 2 lads
  Map of arrival point - Quebec city -  to Ottawa then north
  to Grand Calumet locations for Joseph Kelleher & Joseph North
 - Just south into U.S. Ogdensburg N.Y. we find a Michael Mahoney
  https://maps.app.goo.gl/M9mdswJLRQ2F8iwf7

Says at naturalization 1888 - came to  U.S. 1882
Living Ogdensburgh
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7VFH-B6T2
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89MZ-3WR4
a John Deshnan vouched for him ( no such person to be found as yet )
ADDED correction:Just found this, so not James using a false name
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZQN-R984

Note- all the other missing census info below
1920  ED 165,  St Lawrence, New York, United States
 widowed  b. 1866 England  Arrival Date "1872"
 - occ. boat carpenter - with son James - occ. sailor
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVSS-6Q9
 
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFQH-584
1930 census - Carpenter - Ogdensburg, Saint Lawrence, New York, United States
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRCS-DHK
1940 census with Dau-in-Law Julie
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQYL-GVT

Michael Mahoney - Birth Date  29 Jan 1865 - Passport Applic. 1923 N.Y. United
says sailed on Sardinian  (a match but dates don't tally)
Occ: Carpenter / Boat-Builder - Photograph of him & more on next page!
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9D3-B8MG
( So did he make that trip to visit or look for some family? )

Michael Mahoney b. 29 "Jan" 1865 - died 20 Feb 1945
Dearborn, Wayne, Michigan, United States
Parents Dennis Mahoney & Bridget McCarty...
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFQH-584
Son John was living in Dearborn- Michael's not shown buried there
 in same graveyard as John nor with Jane in N.Y.

Definitely confused as to nationality which is not unusual for a Home Child
1900 says father b. Eng. mother b.Ireland
(1900 to 1915 census can be found in tree sources (next)
1920 census says parents born England/ spoke Irish
1930  parents b.Northern Ireland  1940 all b. Ireland

found this FHS TREE (with some censuses) - which is missing much of the above info:
 https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LCFJ-G9S
I will inform them so that they may look at these extra finds...
Perhaps they might want to look through the GRO information & order some certs!

[J.J.]

ADDING re: Michael
  (Again, all may be red herrings- so many Mahoney in Workhouses, etc.)
    The poor Irish, trying to get away from poverty & finding more...

 Marriages Mar 1858 Dennis Mahoney Whitechapel vol.1c page 594
 a Bridget McCann on page but may not be the spouse
  there are children on GRO surname Mooney? / mother's Mn McCann reg. STEPNEY
    Michael  1866  Dec. Quarter  Vol 1C  Page 461
    Ellen Jane 1869  March Quarter  Vol 1C  Page 449

a MAHONEY, DENNIS age 32  d.1867  D Quarter  WHITECHAPEL which may be too early?
 Plus there are so many Dennis Mahoney & workhouse attendees are moved around a LOT!

I had also found this Michael - was interested as locations directly south of Quebec
But he says imm. 1870 Lewiston - (is that even possible)
found no more  in the U.S. on this one thus far.
 Naturalization   26 Feb 1885 Portland, Cumberland, Maine, United States
 Michael Mahoney Age 21 years  Birth Date  - 4 Feb 1864 Greenwich, Eng
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6L6N-Q88Y
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXR4-VVX

adding:  I just found this one in my notes as well
1900 census  Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States
Mich Mahoney Age 36  b. August 1864 England  Arrival 1879 Single
Boarder   Father & mother born Ireland
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M94L-KRX

 
 

[eileenwilson]

Death notice for Michael in Ogdensburg.