The youngest of Charles’ children; she suffered from his descent into drink and violence. She was born in 1874 when Charles had already been removed from his police job and was barely clinging on to work as a bailiff.

When she was five her father was imprisoned for five months for; at ten she was taken by her mother to the Middlemore Home. She was sent from there to Canada a year later as a British Home Child. By 17 she was pregnant; Charles sent the money for her to return to England where her son Frederick was born in Blackburn in 1982. Later that year she returned to Canada with Frederick and married Laurence Borley, another Home Child. She died of TB a few years later aged 24.

The facts:

According to her baptism record Amy was born in Birmingham on 20^th May 1874. In the October Charles was described as “a disgrace to his profession” and narrowly escaped from what,

She was four when she was baptised, on 11^th December 1878, as Amy Rebekah, at Christ Church (by the Floosy). The family were living in Mary Ann Street (off St Pauls Square). 

The following year on 11^th September 1879 her father was given 3 months hard labour for assaulting her mother. They were still living at Mary Ann Street

By the 1881 Census they were still in the Jewelery Qquarter but now at the back of 21 Tyndall St – between Camden St and Newhall Hill. 

In January 1882 her father was discharged after unlawfully wounding her mother but told to get a judicial separation. In the October her older sister Ann Phoebe was taken to the Middlemore home by their mother.  They were living as lodgers at 8 John Street, Dale End, without Charles. 

In 1883 her father was charged with housebreaking but aquitted. 

Actual age 10 20^th October 1884 – Aged 8??? – mother takes her to Middlemore.  Living at Court 6, house 2, Smithfield Passage (markets area)

“only child, father deserted, mother unable to work – ill health”

Actual age  11 18^th June 1885 – aged 9??? – sails from Liverpool on the Circassian.   Arrives Quebec 29^th June.  Placed with / indentured to Rathburns, Goderich, Ontario.

17 ish 1891 “Father sending money for bringing Amy home. Rathburn’s will be pleased to get rid of her”

17 years – January ish 1892 has a son Frederick in Blackburn

18 years – June/July 1892 she travels with son and father to Quebec on the Sardinian age 18 (now agrees with baptism)

21 years – 23^rd March 1896 she marries Laurence Borley/ Bosley – also a home child; from Suffolk? In Richwood, Ontario. Age 22 (disagrees)

24 years – Dies 26^th January 1898, Oxford, Ontario. Tuberculosis. try Canadian Forums for what happened to Frederick?

insert a gallery – lots of relevant documents

C&P from doc below

The youngest of Charles’ children, Amy’s life was short but eventful. Her father was drunk and violent during her early childhood, and she was admitted to Middlemore children’s home aged 10.  She was sent Canada a year later and did not flourish there – her placement family / employer was “glad to get rid of her” when she was 17 and pregnant.  Charles sent the money for her voyage back to England and travelled with her and her son when they returned to Canada 18 months later in 1892. There she married another “Home Child” but died of tuberculosis in 1898 aged just 24. 

Amy was born on the 20^th of May 1874 in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. Aged four she was baptised as Amy Rebekah at Christ Church (by where the Floosy is now – insert a photo?) with 3 of her siblings. This was probably an enthusiastic curate rounding up the unbaptised children in his parish. The family were living in Mary Ann Street, off St Pauls Square and her father was a Labourer. 

She was five when her father assaulted her mother and was sentenced to 3 months hard labour. Two years later the 1881 census shows her living with xxx in a back-to-back off 21 Tyndall St (between Camden St and Newhall Hill). 

7 years  January 1882 Father is discharged ?? after unlawfully wounding her mother but told to get a judicial separation.

8 years   30^th October 1882 older sister Ann Phoebe is taken to Middlemore by her mother.  Mother & daughters living as lodgers at 8 John Street, Dale End. 

9 years 27^th June 1883 father is acquitted of housebreaking. Admit an 8 year old?

Amy herself was admitted to Middlemore on 25^th October 1884, “aged 8”.  The admission summary states “only child, father deserted, mother unable to work – ill health”. 

She was actually 10; perhaps Emily thought she was more likely to be accepted if she was younger?

 Transcribe the application form

The following year on 18^th June 1885  she sailed from Liverpool on the Circassian with a party of xx other “Home Children.  They arrived in Quebec on 29^th June. 

Two weeks later she was placed with Charles Middleton of Goderich, Ontario.

After two years she was moved to Wallace Rathburn of Blenheim, Dumbo where she spent the next four years.

In 1890 the annual visit noted that she was “after the boys” and had concerns about her “spiritual welfare”

By the June of 1891 she was 17 in real life but 15 according to the “authorities”. The annual visitation report states:

 “Amy is a big strong healthy self-willed girl. Her father has written to her that he has been converted and given up the drink for 4 years and has promised to send money to bring her home. She is not a good girl. They dare not let her out alone. They will be glad to get rid of her”

And in October 1891 she was “Returned to England on payment”.  What is not recorded is her pregnancy. Her son Frederick was born on 11^th January 1891 in the Blackburn Workhouse.

Charles died at 39 Hazel Street in April 1894 – this must be her

she’s on the 1891 census with the Rathburns.

18 years – June/July 1892 she traveled with son and father to Quebec on the Sardinian age 18 (now agrees with baptism)

21 years – 23^rd March 1896 she married Laurence Borley/ Bosley – also a home child; from Suffolk? In Richwood, Ontario. Age 22 (disagrees)

24 years – Died 26^th January 1898, Oxford, Ontario. Tuberculosis.