Emigration Reports and Letters, Girls

This series relates to any papers, reports and letters created by the emigration of girls to Marchmont Receiving Home between the years of 1894-1898. Most of the individuals have a separate envelope containing reports and letters, although some are mixed with other children, usually in the case of siblings. The contents themselves include reports on the girls in their new places from the Marchmont Receiving Home to the Central Refuge in Strangeways. These would report details on the girl's residence and relationship with their employers. Letters are also included in this collection from the child, often addressed to Mr or Mrs Shaw, Miss Smethurst, Matron of the Girls Home whom often accompanied the children on the journey from Manchester to Ontario, and Mr and Mrs Wallace, who managed the Marchmont Home. These give a useful insight into the relationship between the emigrants and their employees and the mindset of the children who had been sent overseas. Many wrote of their desire to be in contact with relatives they had left behind in England. Some of the children were eventually adopted by their Canadian families and consequently changed their names.