*2010* ~ Year of the British Home Child in Canada

George McMaster, 8, and his sister Annie McMaster , 12, came from the Chichester Workhouse, West Sussex on the SS Prussian leaving Liverpool July14, 1870 - arriving at Quebec  July 25.

In 1871 George McMASTER, 9, is living with John MARTIN, farmer, HopeTownship, Durham County, Ontario.

In 1871 Annie McASTER, 13, is living with William & Sarah GOURLY, shoemaker, St. Catharines Town., Lincoln County, Ontario

This will be a 2 part story for siblings George and Annie McMaster - this week will be about George and will be continued about Annie next Sunday, October 28th.

1. (To Governess in Chichester, West Sussex, England) -

 “ I was waiting for an answer from Georgie.  I came from Niagara before he did, and now he is in Port Hope.  Have you ever heard of that place before?  It is about one hundred and fifty miles from St. Catherine’s. I wrote to Miss Rye and asked her where he was gone to, and she told me that he was in P. Hope, and we wrote twice to him, but he has never answered our letters.”

2. (To Miss Rye at Our Western Home, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario) 

“I have heard that my brother as got a home, but I have not seen him or heard from him.  Please Miss Rye would you tell me where he is gone; is he in St Catherine’s?  Would you please to tell me the name of the place he is gone to, and the name of his master, and the church, and the minister, and what work does he do?  Did he cry much after I went away?  I  know I don’t feel quite so happy as I should feel if I knew where he was and hear from him.  Did you every hear him speak of me while he was there?  How long ago as he been at his home?  I hope has as got such a good home as I have.”

1875 Doyle Report - Mrs Gourley of  St Catharines took in Annie McMaster whose brother George had been placed with a farmer near Port Hope.  George, very unhappy with his situation, was sent for by Mr Gourley who found him a job in St. Catharines with Mr R.  But he twice turned the boy out of doors.  Upon the last occasion he was found at the corner of the street, sitting on his box crying.  He was taken in by Mrs G who kept him for some weeks, and got his present situation, assistant to a small market gardener, where he is in a very humble home, but is kindly treated ... He had been in Chichester Workhouse for 3 years, where his conduct was reported to be good.  The information furnished the Guardians about him from Canada is: Good accounts are received from this child.
He is at St. Catharines’s, in a gentleman’s family.  The boys own description of the place in a ‘gentleman’s family’ was, that his master was a ‘sort of middlin farmer; that he was put to wash the dishes, scrub floors, drive cattle, and do little chores about the house.’   The good woman who so kindly interested herself for the boy, observed to me, “You are the first person, sir, who has ever been to visit these children or to make inquiry about them.

1875 Inspection Report - St. Catharines Centre, Rev G Burson - Inspector, George McMaster, 14, Chichester Workhouse 1870, (Rel) PC, doesn’t go to Church & Sunday School, with Mr Colburt, St. Catharines, adopted, clothes,  here 1 year. Sent back to Niagara (Our Western Home, Niagara-on-the-Lake), as was not required & untruthful lad.

1875 Inspection Report  - Niagara Centre, Robert Ball & Arch Deacon McMurray - Inspectors:  George McMaster.  8 girls and 2 boys are now at the Home, viz 2 of those girls are quite
unmanagable. And the latter boy Cook & McMaster promising looking lad, untruthful has been sent back to the home twice. Miss Bailey and her sister are in charge of the home in the absence of Miss Rye in England.

I have tried to find George in 1881 census, also a possible marriage, even USA census with no luck so far.

continued next week