Now I am in reflective mood and have returned to stories of those who left Britain to start new lives in Canada and even further afield in Australia and New Zealand.
So here is the first of three from Carol Spencer some of whose family left south east England for the wide expanses of Canada just before the Great War.*
"Edwin Norman Harland along with his wife, Maude Mary Harland and two sons Lloyd and Ron set sail for Canada on the Montrose out of Liverpool, England. They were heading for a better life in which free land was promised.
At that time to encourage settlers 160 acres of land was offered with a few conditions. First you must pay $10. Next a home must be built in the first year and 10 acres ploughed. Lastly you must live on the land for at least 6 months of the year for three years.
It really sounded so simple and easy to become a landowner!
Who could resist when owning land in Britain was almost an impossibility!
The family landed in St. John, New Brunswick in late March of 1912. It was still winter in Canada.
They went to a restaurant for a meal and were really looking forward to it after the long voyage on the boat.
The restaurant served the best tea Maude had ever tasted and she asked the waitress what it was.
Orange Pekoe became her tea of choice ever after.
The waitress was very friendly and struck up a conversation with them asking about their plans. They were planning on heading west to Manitoba in hopes of finding work and possibly learning a little about Canadian life.
She gave them some excellent advice. The little boys, ages 3 and 5, were dressed in their best short pants and socks made of cotton. She advised them to purchase long woollen underwear and heavier outer clothing otherwise they would freeze on their way west. Clothing was upgraded and they were very grateful for the advice.
The train was boarded along with their settler’s effects which were few. Maude did bring a few treasures with her.
A large brass bed warmer, which her great grandchildren always thought was a banjo minus the strings, a cut glass dish which was a wedding gift and her grandmothers silver-plated bean pot.
They travelled by train for 3 days to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Once in Manitoba work was readily available on farms. Edwin got work as a farmhand and Maude became the housekeeper and cook for two bachelor farmers. Edwin got on well as there was someone there to instruct him.
Maude was on her own and had to learn to cook many things in a new way. Things were not the same as in Britain. Two items in particular caused many trials. Yeast for bread was dry not the same as home. It needed to be soaked to make yeast sponge before mixing into the flour.
This was unknown to Maude and several batches of bread were mixed and buried when they would not rise!! Only to later rise out of the ground when the sun warmed them sufficiently!!
Being a very proud, independent woman, she had difficult time asking for help. Pies were another experience. They were made from dried fruit and unless soaked beforehand, would not work.
After dismal failure of turning out hard shells with fruit rattling around inside Maude waited for an opportunity to watch and learn. She had acquired a hired girl and told the girl she should go ahead and make the pies and Maude would prepare the vegetables.
Maude kept a sharp eye on the girl and discovered her mistake while saving her pride."
© Carol Spencer, 2013
Pictures; courtesy of Carol Spencer
*The Harland Family, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/The%20Harland%20Family
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| Maud and Edwin and the boys 1909 |
"Edwin Norman Harland along with his wife, Maude Mary Harland and two sons Lloyd and Ron set sail for Canada on the Montrose out of Liverpool, England. They were heading for a better life in which free land was promised.
At that time to encourage settlers 160 acres of land was offered with a few conditions. First you must pay $10. Next a home must be built in the first year and 10 acres ploughed. Lastly you must live on the land for at least 6 months of the year for three years.
It really sounded so simple and easy to become a landowner!
Who could resist when owning land in Britain was almost an impossibility!
The family landed in St. John, New Brunswick in late March of 1912. It was still winter in Canada.
They went to a restaurant for a meal and were really looking forward to it after the long voyage on the boat.
The restaurant served the best tea Maude had ever tasted and she asked the waitress what it was.
 |
| In Canada in 1912 |
The waitress was very friendly and struck up a conversation with them asking about their plans. They were planning on heading west to Manitoba in hopes of finding work and possibly learning a little about Canadian life.
She gave them some excellent advice. The little boys, ages 3 and 5, were dressed in their best short pants and socks made of cotton. She advised them to purchase long woollen underwear and heavier outer clothing otherwise they would freeze on their way west. Clothing was upgraded and they were very grateful for the advice.
The train was boarded along with their settler’s effects which were few. Maude did bring a few treasures with her.
A large brass bed warmer, which her great grandchildren always thought was a banjo minus the strings, a cut glass dish which was a wedding gift and her grandmothers silver-plated bean pot.
They travelled by train for 3 days to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Once in Manitoba work was readily available on farms. Edwin got work as a farmhand and Maude became the housekeeper and cook for two bachelor farmers. Edwin got on well as there was someone there to instruct him.
Maude was on her own and had to learn to cook many things in a new way. Things were not the same as in Britain. Two items in particular caused many trials. Yeast for bread was dry not the same as home. It needed to be soaked to make yeast sponge before mixing into the flour.
 |
| Maud |
Being a very proud, independent woman, she had difficult time asking for help. Pies were another experience. They were made from dried fruit and unless soaked beforehand, would not work.
After dismal failure of turning out hard shells with fruit rattling around inside Maude waited for an opportunity to watch and learn. She had acquired a hired girl and told the girl she should go ahead and make the pies and Maude would prepare the vegetables.
Maude kept a sharp eye on the girl and discovered her mistake while saving her pride."
© Carol Spencer, 2013
Pictures; courtesy of Carol Spencer
*The Harland Family, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/The%20Harland%20Family
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