Young Immigrants to Canada

UWInfo | Young Immigrants | 19th Century Immigration | Genealogy | Local History

Mrs. Ellinor Close

Mrs. Ellinor Close had an unusual idea, called the "scattered farm system" which she proposed to the Canadian Government. Mrs. Close wanted to bring young children between two and three years of age to farms in the western parts of Canada. The children were to be raised in a family type setting with about 15-20 children to each farm. When the children became of age they would be returned to England.

After long discussions with the Federal Government, who were not very interested in the scheme and believed the young age of the children to be a problem, the plans fell through. However, the government of New Brunswick agreed to work with Mrs. Close to start a farm in that province with older children. In 1906, the first of Mrs. Close's children came to Canada. The emigration ceased with the outbreak of war in 1914.

Records:

The Library and Archives of Canada has records for this organization in C10237, Vol. 323, #312973 covering the period 1904-11.

If any one has additional information on any of these children please contact me.

UWInfo | Young Immigrants | 19th Century Immigration | Genealogy | Local History