Hello, Both of my great-grandparents were "British Home Children." In 1874, they and their seven siblings were shipped out of Liverpool, England. They all sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and most remained there, at least until they married. One family I am interested in tracing is:
Evan and Elizabeth Corkill, and their children: Mary, Julia, Esther, John, and Robert. Evan Corkill is believed to have been born on the Isle of Man in 1827. He was reported to be a Master Mariner. And, I believe his father was John Corkill, born on the Isle of Man around 1800. I have no information on Evan's marriage to Elizabeth. .. In 1873, Mrs. Elizabeth Corkill died, and Mr. Evan Corkill was unable to care for their five children. The Liverpool Sheltering Homes was opened in Liverpool, England, in May 1873. At some point, the Corkill children were sent to live there. During 1874, they were all shipped to Nova Scotia. ... At just about the same time, there was a LEWIS family. Attorney John Lewis and his wife, Isabel Lewis, were living in Liverpool, England, in the 1870's. So far, I know nothing about their origins. But, there seems to have been many Lewis families in Liverpool during the 1800's, including more than one .. John and Isabel Lewis. I believe they had four children, John, Josephine, Elizabeth, and Mary. I don't know why, but these children went to live in the .. Liverpool Sheltering Homes in 1873. Again, they were shipped to Nova Scotia during 1874. .. I assume that these Lewis and Corkill children already knew each other at the Liverpool orphanage, or perhaps before then. And, then they all lived in Nova Scotia together. In 1879, John Lewis and Mary Corkill married in Truro, NS. ... Just last week, I found descendants of Mary's sister, Julia, in Nova Scotia, so I hope to learn more about the Corkill's there. I also have the married name of their sister, Esther, and John Corkill's wife's name. I am still searching for Robert Corkill's adult information. .... Since I can find very little information on the Lewis family in Liverpool in the 1870's, I am wondering if they were also from .. the Isle of Man. ... Also, I was wondering if someone could tell me which part of the island .. Evan Corkill .. might have been from.
In addition, if anyone is looking for information on the "Home Children," there is a fairly new web site devoted to them. Just put "British Home Children" into a search, and you will find the web site. On the site, you will find links to several other excellent web sites on the subject. (There were a few other Corkill/Corkhill children, as mentioned at the ArchiviaNet section of the National Archives of Canada.)
I'm in Massachusetts, where my great-grandparents migrated to in 1881.