Clewer House of Mercy

[chwiliwr]

I am looking for information from Berkshire record office re a distant relative who was an 'inmate' at the Clewer House of Mercy Windsor at the time of the 1911 census. Her name was Kate Hitchmough (nee Williams). I know that she was in her hometown in North Wales in 1906 bringing up her two sons and estranged from her husband. After that the only record I have of her is the 1911 census. Nothing in 1921 and I have been unable to find a record of her death.
I believe there is a record of her admission in the HoM's Penitents' roll (register of admissions) cat. no. D/EX1675/2/10/5 and a record of her leaving under her initials KH in the Patients' progress book cat. no. D/EX1675/2/11/11.
I am intrigued to know what information is recorded about her, particularly date of admission and reason as well as date of leaving and circumstances. It would be interesting to know how she ended up so far from home and apparently in dire circumstances.
The distance from my home in North Wales makes a visit to the archive impractical so I would appreciate any help from anyone visiting the archive with some time to spare and the curiosity to delve into Kate's story.
Many thanks in anticipation.
Chwiliwr

[AlanBoyd]

There is a Canadian Incoming Passenger record for the vessel 'Tunisian' from 10 Feb 1914 for Catherine Hitchmough, married, age 36, born Wales. She is not listed alongside a husband however. Arrived Halifax Nova Scotia, destination Montreal. She is a servant with 'Assured Work' and is annotated as 'Bonus Allowed Mrs Radford'.

There is also a Border Crossing record to the US from Canada, October 1915 for Kate Hitchmaugh, 37. The transcript (A*y) mentions a sibling Henry Williams and an employer W W Warren, but the image is very poor and I cannot see those details myself. Her line in the record has been stamped 'DEBARRED'.

[CaroleW]

Her 2 sons were William Ernest 1904 & Thomas Charles 1907 both b Dollgelly

Did they remain in Wales?  One is shown as adopted son & the other is with another family in 1911.

EDIT

Tree on Ancestry shows both boys remained in England/Wales

[chwiliwr]

Many thanks for the information about Kate going to Canada and USA. It is almost certainly her as she had a brother Henry Williams, who was a Baptist minister.
I wonder if the nuns of the House of Mercy arranged work and new lives for their 'fallen women'? Presumably she left the HoM about the time of her departure for Canada. Any idea what DEBARRED meant ? Was she refused entry?
As  for the two sons, in 1911 and 1921 William was with Kate's sister Ruth, who ran a boarding house, and worked on the railway. I believe he moved to Liverpool with the railway.
According to the 1911 census Thomas was a relative (perthynas) in the Griffiths household, but I am unable to link that family with Kate's. By 1921 he was also with his aunt Ruth. He eventually worked for the forestry commission in North Wales.
I'm still in the dark about when Kate entered the HoM, why and what she was doing in that area.
But I can start searching for her in Canada and America thanks to your help.

[AlanBoyd]

I found this newspaper item:

17 October 1905: Herald Cymraeg

DOLGELLAU
...
LLYS YNADOL.—Dydd Mawrth, gerbron C. E. Munro Edwards, Ysw., cyhuddwyd Mrs Catherine Hitchmough, Railway-terrace, o fod yn feddw ar y 23ain cynfisol, a dirwywyd hi i 2s 6c at costau.

This is an AI translation:

Magistrates' Court.—On Tuesday, before C. E. Munro Edwards, Esq., Mrs Catherine Hitchmough, Railway-terrace, was accused of being drunk on the 23rd of last month, and was fined 2 shillings 6 pence plus costs.

[AlanBoyd]

Any idea what DEBARRED meant ? Was she refused entry?

Yes, I think it must mean that she was refused entry.

[chwiliwr]

Thanks
I was aware of that court appearance. In March 1906 she was fined 5/= + 9/6 costs for Drunkenness (in charge of a child) and in the same year her husband put an announcement in the local newspaper that he would no longer be responsible for her debts. She really was the black sheep of the family.
AI has done a very good job of translating by the way.

[AlanBoyd]

This article– https://dyfangwynjones.substack.com/p/john-and-jennie-humphreys –includes this passage:

It has been difficult to find any information on Jennie’s time in Canada, but I did manage to find a passenger list for the SS Tunisian arriving at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the 31st of March 1912. On that list was the name Jennie Parry who was heading to Montreal as a domestic servant. It includes a stamp on the passenger list near Jennie’s that says, ‘Bonus allowed Mrs Radford’. This I believe indicates that a commission was paid by a Mrs Radford to enable Jennie to purchase a ticket to travel as an immigrant to Canada. I believe that this Mrs Radford could be a Mrs Jane Radford who is often reported in The Montreal Gazette in 1912 as campaigning for the wellbeing of immigrant girls moving to Canada to serve in domestic duties.

I found an article from 21 August 1908: Aberdeen Press and Journal which describes a visit from Mrs Jane Radford, Principal of the Women's Canadian Employment Bureau, Montreal. It is a long article, but basically it confirms that she was in the business of assisting women (girls) of good character to find employment as servants, and to assist with their passage and arrival. There is no specific mention of any connection with homes for fallen women.

[AlanBoyd]

22 February 1913: North Bucks Times and County Observer

The first of the weekly conducted parties being organised by the Salvation Army this year sailed on the Tunisan [sic] for Canada, Captain George Carter, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, being in charge of the party. Before leaving London the passengers were given a supper at Paddington.