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Canada & Kent, UK. Keeler 'Home Children'

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LizRees

LizRees Report 11 Apr 2010 14:45

Sorry Choccy you beat me to it with passenger list.

I reckon it's highly likely.

And Margaret Amelia could have changed her name to Henrietta Gladys.

Perhaps to avoid confusion with her younger half-sister Margaret (Marguerite?) who joined her in Canada later.

Thank you everyone for your wonderful response to my query.

I have to go out now, but will be back later to check for updates.

Best wishes

Liz

LizRees

LizRees Report 11 Apr 2010 14:40

Hi Choccy,

Hmmm, you may well be onto something here. Hetti had a sister, Margaret Keeler, who also moved to Canada.

Margaret Amelia b. 1887 is the daughter of Daniel and Matilda Keeler, the same family mentioned earlier in this thread. She is the only daughter of Daniel & Matilda that I can't account for in 1901 census.

Here is the best record I could find on collectionscanada for a Margaret Keeler travelling to Canada as one of the 'Home Children':-

Surname: KEELER Given Name: Margaret Age: 16 Sex: F (makes birth year abt. 1888)
Ship: Tunisian Year of Arrival: 1904 Departure Port: Liverpool Departure Date: 14 April 1904
Arrival Port: Halifax Arrival Date: 23 April 1904 Party: Rev. Robert Wallace
Destination: Belleville, Ontario Comments: 63 children
Source: Library and Archives Canada
Type of Record: Passenger Lists Group of Children Traveling Together

So it could easily be the same person (except where is she on 1901 census?)

And I am beginning to wonder if this lady is really Hetti.

But (of course there has to be a complication, doesn't there?) my cousin's mum said that Hetti had a half sister called Margaret.

Sure enough, her marriage record gives the following info:-
Marriage record: Ontario, Canada, Marriages 1801-1926. CC believes this to be correct for his Gt. Aunt Margaret:-

Name: Marguriete A. Keeler, age 22 in 1915 (note spelling of forename)
Father: Daniel Keeler; Mother: Margaret Morton
Spouse: Gordon Edward Ferris
Marriage: 27 July 1915 in Canada.

CC remembers that they separated in 1930's. G.E. Ferris died late 1950's, Margaret died 1967-68.

I have tried researching Margaret’s mother, Margaret Morton. There are 3 born Kent between 1860-1900.

A theory is that Daniel Keeler (Hetti’s father) fathered Margaret. 1891 census shows him with wife Matilda (Hetty’s mother), but what happened after that: in 1901 census he is an engine driver, living apart from rest of his family.

Another possibility is that their son, Daniel Harrup Keeler (b. 1870), is Margaret's father. He has completely disappeared from 1891 census, but turns up in 1901 married to Eliza Foster (married 1900).

I found this Margaret Morton (Death) in Kent:-
Margaret Morton; Est. birth yr: 1875;
Yr of Reg: 1892 Q Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at Death: 17;
District: Elham County: Kent Volume: 2a Page: 914

She could have been Margaret's mother, dying soon after giving birth - if Margaret was b. abt. 1892-93 as per marriage record. It seems more likely that Daniel Harrup Keeler would have fathered her child (he 22, she 17) than his father Daniel (who would have been abt. 47).



Choccy

Choccy Report 11 Apr 2010 14:34


listed with lots of other 'children'


Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
Name: Margt Keeler
Gender: Female
Age: 16
Estimated birth year: abt 1888
Date of Arrival: 23 Apr 1904
Vessel: Tunisian
Search Ship Database: View the 'Tunisian' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: Halifax, Nova Scotia and St John, New Brunswick
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
Roll: T-498





Choccy

Choccy Report 11 Apr 2010 14:27



On the 1911 Canadian census Henrietta gives her date of birth as 17th September 1887.


Margaret Amelia was born September quarter of 1887 ?



Births Sep 1887 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


KEELER Margaret Amelia Bridge 2a 810



Coincidence ?



LizRees

LizRees Report 11 Apr 2010 14:16

Just checked the occupation of Daniel Keeler in Barham, Kent (husband of Matilda).

1851-1881 censuses, he is Ag. Labourer.
1891 census he is a gardener.
1901 he is an engine driver.
He died 1904.

Barham is in the 'Garden of England' area - so I wonder whether 'gardener' could be fruit grower? Perhaps he was a grocer as well.

Or maybe it's a completely different Daniel Keeler who was a fruit grocer in Toronto.

LizRees

LizRees Report 11 Apr 2010 14:02

Margaret,

Ooh, this provides more info (occupations and addresses) than the marriage record I found previously.

Brilliant - thank you again,

Liz

MargaretM

MargaretM Report 11 Apr 2010 13:58

On the original of the marriage record it says:
Groom:
Frank James Moore
Printer
Age 21
Presbyterian
71 Salon? St.
Father-Frank John Moore, printer
Mother-Not known

Bride:
Henrietta Gladys Keeler
Age 24
Baptist
21 Spadina Rd.
Father-Daniel Keeler, fruit grocer
Mother-Matilda Caster or Castle?

Married by license by H.C. Dixon.
Witnesses Amy L. Dixon, Minnie McKnight.


LizRees

LizRees Report 11 Apr 2010 13:45

Margaret - thanks, that's most helpful.

Will have a look myself. I wasn't aware of that URL.

My cousin thinks that Hetti and her sister did try to cover up their past lives with all kinds of what he calls 'magical' stories.

I am beginning to think Hetti was a real-life Anne of Green Gables (the one in the book, not our heroic GR helper!!). Their lives seem to have a lot of parallels.

Liz

LizRees

LizRees Report 11 Apr 2010 13:40

Hi Irish Gal,

Thanks for looking - yes, I have had the same problem! There aren't many Henriettas with different surnames born around that time, let alone any Keelers.

My cousin and I are beginning to think she invented the names Henrietta and Gladys because they sounded more interesting than her birth name (whatever that might have been).

But of course, if she was born in Ontario, which is a strong possibility, that puts a whole different light on everything.

After all, if she had moved to Canada from the UK I imagine she would have had naturalization papers. Must admit this is one search I haven't tried yet.

Liz

MargaretM

MargaretM Report 11 Apr 2010 13:39

Go to Automatedgenealogy here:

http://www.automatedgenealogy.com/index.html

Click on 1911 census.
Click on Ontario.
Type in Moore.
Then type in first name Henrietta.
She's the 23 year old one.
Click on the page no.
To see original click on "split view" at top.
I have to magnify up to 100%.
That's where it says born Ontario, mind you she could have lied. There was a time when people were ashamed of being a "Home Child". Not any more.

Irish Gel

Irish Gel Report 11 Apr 2010 13:26

Unable to see any birth info for your girl in the whole of Kent for the given timespan give or take 2 years.

LizRees

LizRees Report 11 Apr 2010 13:24

Margaret,

That's very interesting - thank you!

Does it say where she's living, what work she's doing etc. - or how can I view this census myself, please? (Had a look at Can. census before, but missed this one).

Liz

MargaretM

MargaretM Report 11 Apr 2010 13:14

On the 1911 Canadian census she says she was born 17 Sep. 1887 in Ontario, Canada.

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 11 Apr 2010 13:10

my pleasure - I am sure others on here will find even more for you!!

LizRees

LizRees Report 11 Apr 2010 13:00

Hi Anne,

Wow, thank you!

Daniel & Matilda Keeler whom you posted from 1881 census are the ones we believe to be the parents recorded on Hetti's marriage record.

Those Canadian census records are great finds. I have asked CC if there's any likelihood that Hetti and her sister were really born in Canada.

He says they were both dreamers, told fantastic stories, so he is not sure how much they made up and how much was true!

Thank you again,

Liz

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 11 Apr 2010 12:51


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Husband's Name
James CASTLE (AFN:1K9P-HLB) Pedigree

Born: 1801 Place: Nonington, Kent, England
Married: Abt 1837/1838 Place: , , , England

Father:
Mother:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wife's Name
Ann (AFN:1K9P-HMJ) Pedigree

Born: 1816 Place: , Hampshire, England
Married: Abt 1837/1838 Place: , , , England

Father:
Mother:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Children

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Sex Name
M Frederick CASTLE (AFN:1K9P-HNQ) Pedigree

Born: 1839 Place: Barham, Kent, England

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Sex Name
F Harriet Ann CASTLE (AFN:1K9P-HPX) Pedigree

Born: 1842 Place: Barham, Kent, England

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Sex Name
M Richard J. CASTLE (AFN:1K9P-HQ5) Pedigree

Born: 1844 Place: Barham, Kent, England

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Sex Name
F Martha M. CASTLE (AFN:1K9P-HRC) Pedigree

Born: 1846 Place: Barham, Kent, England

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Sex Name
F Matilda J. CASTLE (AFN:1K9P-HSK) Pedigree

Born: 1849 Place: Barham, Kent, England

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 11 Apr 2010 12:49

1881

Robert KEELER M Male English 39 O Farmer Bible Christian
Elizabeth KEELER M Female English 34 O Bible Christian
Susan E. KEELER Female English 12 O Bible Christian
John L. KEELER Male English 11 O Bible Christian
Robert J. KEELER Male English 8 O Bible Christian
William T. KEELER Male English 7 O Bible Christian
George H. KEELER Male English 5 O Bible Christian
Samuel P. KEELER Male English 3 O Bible Christian
Elizabeth A. KEELER Female English 1 O Bible Christian


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Census Place Hope, Durham East, Ontario
Family History Library Film 1375877
NA Film Number C-13241
District 127
Sub-district A
Division 3
Page Number 16
Household Number 80

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 11 Apr 2010 12:49

1881
Thomas KEELER M Male English 63 England Farmer Church of England
Elizabeth KEELER M Female English 66 England Church of England
Alice B. GUTHERIE Female Scottish 4 O Church of England
John DENNE M Male English 52 England Farmer Church of England
Elizabeth DENNE M Female English 49 England Church of England
George DENNE Male English 25 O Farmer Church of England
Joseph DENNE Male English 23 O Farmer Church of England
Kezia DENNE Female English 19 O Church of England
Eliza DENNE Female English 17 O Church of England
William DENNE Male English 15 O Church of England
Thomas DENNE Male English 13 O Church of England
Elizabeth DENNE Female English 9 O Church of England


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Census Place Roma, Ontario North, Ontario
Family History Library Film 1375881
NA Film Number C-13245
District 133
Sub-district H
Page Number 10
Household Number 45

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 11 Apr 2010 12:46

1881

George KEELER Head M Male 38 Alkham, Kent, England Bricklayer
Susana KEELER Wife M Female 36 Lydden, Kent, England
David KEELER Son U Male 16 Dover, Kent, England Bricklayers
Susana KEELER Daur Female 14 Dover, Kent, England Scholar
Minne KEELER Daur Female 12 Dover, Kent, England Scholar
George KEELER Son Male 11 Dover, Kent, England Scholar
Norah KEELER Daur Female 9 Dover, Kent, England Scholar
Henirietta KEELER Daur Female 6 Dover, Kent, England Scholar
Leve KEELER Son Male 4 Dover, Kent, England Scholar
Ernest KEELER Son Male 1 Dover, Kent, England


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Dwelling 5 Magdala Rd
Census Place Buckland In Dover, Kent, England
Family History Library Film 1341239
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 1005 / 73
Page Number 20

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 11 Apr 2010 12:45

1881

Ephraim KEELOR M Male English 65 O Tanner Methodist Canada
Ann KEELOR M Female English 60 O Methodist Canada
Daniel KEELOR Male English 29 O Clerk Methodist Canada
Robert KEELOR Male English 20 O Merchant Methodist Canada
Flourance KEELOR Female English 16 O Methodist Canada


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Census Place Edwardsburg, Grenville South, Ontario
Family History Library Film 1375866
NA Film Number C-13230
District 106
Sub-district C
Division 2
Page Number 65
Household Number 293+