Archibald Thomas Longhurst was born March 28, 1902, in North Bay, Ontario.
His parents were Archibald Walter Longhurst (Jr.) and Fannie Esther Burton.
Following her admission to Barnardo's on October 22, 1903, Alice was placed in the Girls Village Home at Barkingside in Ilford, Essex, and on November 16, 1903 was boarded out with foster parents in the village of Tunbridge Wells in Kent. She was moved from there on April 26, 1904 to foster parents in the village of Beckley in East Sussex, where she remained for nearly eight years. She returned to the Girls Village Home on February 1, 1912 for a period of four months.
On 14 June 1912, Alice left England's shores aboard the S.S. Tunisian and sailed to a new life in Canada. She arrived in Quebec on June 22, 1912. Her sister Amy was also emigrated to Canada and sailed with Alice on that date. Both lived in several, and different, foster homes in Southern Ontario.
Alice met Archibald in Barrie, Ontario. They were married in 1919, soon after meeting.
Archibald and Alice ("Lulu") had six children - in order of birth : Stanley, Archie, Alfred Thomas Burton, Harvey, Ruth, and Lorne. Follow the link above for more information on descendants of Lulu and Archibald Longhurst.
Alice Violet (Lulu) Squires
Born : Saturday, August 31, 1901, in London, England.
Photo : Alice Squires, Ref. 48718, Barnardo's Image Library, Tanner's Lane, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG6 1Q6
(The text below is from information received directly from Lulu, from Barnardo's Homes office in England, and from other information known first-hand or gathered from the Internet...)
1903 : When Alice was two years old, following the death of her father (see above) Alice's mother had to give Alice and newborn baby sister Amy up for adoption, to Barnardo's orphanage, part of the UK's largest children's charity. The sisters were raised together by an unknown woman for eight years, then were both sent to Canada, to the Barnardo home in Peterborough.
Barnardo's records for Alice Squires...
"Thomas John Barnardo was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. As a young man, Barnardo was sent to England to train as a missionary for China. While there, it was decided that Barnardo should train as a doctor. It was at this time that Barnardo became acquainted with the problems in the East End of London and began to work in a Ragged School. As he became more involved in the work, Barnardo met others, such as Annie Macpherson, who were also interested in the plight of the children. Soon he started a home where he said no child would ever be refused admission.
Barnardo began to send children to Canada as early as 1872 through Miss Annie Macpherson's organization. In 1881, Barnardo decided to throw himself whole-heartedly into the emigration effort. He visited Canada, meeting with government officials and others who were interested in the work. A home was donated in Toronto and the work was begun in earnest. Another home was later acquired in Peterborough, Ontario.
Barnardo's continued to emigrate children to Canada until 1939. Some estimate that there were more than 20,000 children brought to Canada by Barnardo's. Although it is this organization most people think of when they hear the term "home children", Barnardo's was only one of many to bring some 125,000 young people to Canada."
An ad from the March 3, 1916 The Times, London, newspaper. Courtesy : S. Nelson
Here is a link to an extensive website about British Home Children in Canada. developed by Lori Oschefski.
Barnardo's photo of the Girl's Village Home, in England.
The journey to Canada...
1912 : The two sisters travelled with many other orphans on the S.S. Tunisian, in the care of W. Owens - destination: Peterborough, Ontario.
The S.S. Tunisian sailed from Liverpool on June 14. It arrived June 23rd, in Montreal, Quebec.
Records exist at the National Archives of Canada. specifically, "Squires" Microfilm reel : T-4787
(see Passenger List )
(Incidentally, the Titanic left England on its maiden voyage April 10, 1912, and sank four days later in the North Atlantic.)
What it may have been like...
This photo from the Canadian national archives, shows a group of home children arriving in the new world.
Lulu remembers...
The orphan boys stayed at the Ilford home, while the girls stayed at the Bernardo home, known as Hazelbrae, in Peterborough.
Three photos : Peterborough City Archives of life at Hazelbrae, Peterborough.
Further reading : the story of a "Bernardo girl" - A Bushel of Light, by Troon Harrison, or The Little Immigrants, by Kenneth Bagnell.
Web sites : Immigrants to Canada, Home Children (1869-1930),
1912 and after : Lulu remembers... she was sent on with 11-year-old Andy (?) to live and work in Shelburne. Amy was sent to Orangeville. Lulu spent 1½ years with the Oliver family, but got sick and spent six weeks in the infirmary. Then Lulu lived and worked in Georgetown at Bessey's, where the daughter went to the "town" school, and Lulu went to the "country" school. After being there for a while, Lulu wound up at Taylor's farm for 1½ years (she remembers "old lady" Taylor, and a boy named Peter who got a fishhook caught in his nose). Then back to Peterborough, and on to Barrie, then Twoba (?), then Peterborough again (Jones family), then back to Barrie.
Bessey's farms and residences, in Georgetown, Ontario...
Into adulthood...
1919 : In Barrie, Lulu met Archibald Longhurst, an eighteen-year-old parcel deliverer. Archie was born in North Bay, Ontario. Archie went on to work for CN Railways, as a car inspector. Lulu and Archie were married in Barrie, which is near Allandale, where Archie worked at one of the predominant division points on the CN rail network in Ontario.
At some point, a fortune teller named Madame Leda, told her to "be careful working where wheels went around". Archie lost his leg in '40 or '41 when, in a train yard, he was unexpectedly knocked down by a train backing up.. "Lost my leg to a... to hang on?" his last words before the anesthetic. Lulu still had the article in her wallet (at the time of Colleen's interview, March 15, 1992).
Note : some of the above - from notes taken by granddaughter Colleen while talking to Lulu on March 15, 1992 at Hasley Court in Brampton, while Lulu was up visiting from Cobourg.
Lulu was a member of the Order of The Eastern Star.
"Only men who are Masons are eligible to join, and only women with specific Masonic affiliation may be members. Eastern Star is a social order comprised of persons with spiritual values, but it is not a religion. Its appeal rests in the true beauty of the refreshing and character-building lessons that are so sincerely portrayed in its ritualistic work. A deep fraternal bond exists between its members. It is the wholesome relationship of sisterly and brotherly love brought about through high principles exemplified in our lives which makes us near and dear to each other. While this is an Order composed of people of deep spiritual convictions, it is open to all faiths, except no faith. The personal welfare of our members is vital to all of those in the Eastern Star and it is considered a privilege to help another member whenever we can."
"Lulu was a very good seamstress. During the Depression the family had very little money (like most people those days) but they were religious and visited church every Sunday. Aunt Lulu did not want her family going to church in 'old' looking clothes, so she went to the local thrift stores and bought dress shirts for 25¢ each. She would bring them home and take them all apart. She then resized the right pieces and 'remade' the shirts to look like new - so that her boys would have nice shirts to wear on Sundays."
This anecdote provided by Melissa Martin.
In the 70's and 80's : Lulu lived at 66 Charlotte Street, Apartment 5, in Belleville, Ontario, then later in an apartment on Henry Street in Belleville.
Early 1990's : Lulu moved from her apartment on Henry Street in Belleville to the Legion Home in Cobourg.
Late summer 1994 : Lulu suffered a broken hip. She is first taken to Peterborough General Hospital, and spends some time there, highly sedated, in a hallway bed. She is then transferred to Cobourg General Hospital. Her condition gradually deteriorates until she passes away on Sept. 8, 1994, from complications of a broken hip, at Cobourg General Hospital.
Obituary for Lulu Alice Violet Longhurst, Cobourg, Ontario
Funeral was Sept. 12 for Lulu Alice Violet Longhurst, 93, of Hivernia Street, Cobourg, Ontario. She died Sept. 8, 1994 at Cobourg General Hospital.
Service was at John R. Bush Funeral Home with Captain Allan Price officiating. Interment at Elmwood Cemetery.
Daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Squires, she was predeceased by her husband Archibald Thomas Longhurst. Mother of Ruth Bevan of Cobourg; Fred Thomas Burton Longhurst and wife Theresa of Brampton, Ontario; predeceased by sons Stanley, Archie, Harvey and Lorne.
Born and educated in England, she was a housewife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Mrs. Longhurst was a member of the Salvation Army. She enjoyed knitting, needlepoint and sewing. Mrs. Longhurst was a Life Member of White Shrine Eastern Star, Quintena #133 charter member.
Pallbearers were grandsons Ted Bevan, Paul Bevan, Tom Longhurst, Craig Longhurst, Greg Longhurst, and Cameron Longhurst.
In other notes taken from Lulu directly...
Lulu's father was a shoemaker (contrary to Barnardo's records).
The order of birth was Maud, Ethel, Florence, William, (herself), and Amy.
Lulu's sister Maud and her husband went to Australia.
Amy married Ross _____.
Lulu outlived all her brothers and sisters, but was able during her lifetime to track them all down. She corresponded with several of them.
How this family connects...
The generations to present include :
_______ SQUIRES/ Mary Ann HARROWELL
Archibald Thomas LONGHURST/ Alice Violet (Lulu) SQUIRES
Alfred Thomas Burton LONGHURST/ Theresa Mary BURKE
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