Hello,
I'd just like to mention my great-grandfather, John "Stanley" LEWIS, born in
Liverpool in 1859. His father was John LEWIS, b~1835 Liverpool. The
father, John, was one of 7 children born to Richard LEWIS, b~1803 in
Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. * I've been on-line and on Lists /
Boards for 8 years, and I've placed hundreds of queries. I'm told there
are 3 possible couples in Shrewsbury who could have been Richard's parents.
But, I don't have a way of finding out which one was his. If he was born
~1803, his unknown parents might have married in the 1790's. And, since
I don't know about his family in Shrewsbury, I don't know if he had
siblings.
And, I have no way of knowing whether the couples in County Shropshire were
born there, or had come over from Wales at some point. I know that LEWIS
is a popular name in Wales. **
My great-grandfather lost both of his parents (only child) just after 1870
and went to the "Liverpool Sheltering Homes" when it opened in 1873. In
1874 he was "shipped to Canada." He went to a family in Nova Scotia. He
had already made friends with Mary CORKILL at the "Home" and they reunited
in Truro, NS. They married there in 1879 and migrated to Massachusetts.
They raised 13 children there.
In case no one has mentioned it lately, there were "over 100,000" unwanted
children in the U.K. ("Child Migrants") who were "shipped to
Canada."
This time *** they were shipped out between 1860 and 1940's. In Canada,
they were referred to as "British Home Children." And this year it is
"2010, the Year of the British Home Child."
I'm curious how many unwanted children in Wales were "shipped out."
(Thousands more children were shipped to Australia, New Zealand, and
wherever there was a British Colony (up to 1960's).)
I believe I mentioned my great-grandfather's story on this List a few years
ago, so there might be information in the archives of this List.
Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA)
*
Richard LEWIS married Elizabeth TROUGHTON from County Cheshire; I am
guessing they married in County Lancashire as all 7 of their children were
born in Liverpool.
**
I had also know that LEWIS was popular in Liverpool (Lancashire), but I was
recently told it is also popular in Scotland. (By the way, I am
considering having my brother participate in a DNA test during May. I'm
told the test goes on sale soon, so the cost is much reduced.
***
The UK's "Child Migrant Scheme" began back in the early 1600's when
unwanted children were "shipped out" and sent to North America. (14
Colonies)