Young Immigrants to Canada

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Emma M. Stirling

Miss Emma Stirling ran serveral homes for children in Edinburgh, Scotland including a day nursery which she started in 1877. Altogether she had 10 homes:

Day Nursery, 10 Mackenzie Place, Edinburgh (opened 1877)
Girl's Home, 11 Mackenzie Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh
Girl's Home, 2 Craigholm Crescent, Burnistland, Fife
Girl's Home, Leadburn Park
Boy's Home, Rosebank, Leadburn Park
Boy's Home, 1 Craigholm Crescent, Burnistland, Fife
Boy's Home, 4, Bayton Terrace, Granton Road, near Edinburgh
The Shelter from Cruelty, 150 High Street, Edinburgh
Merleton, Wardie (closed in 1886)
16 Craigholm Crescent, Burnistland (closed in 1886)

Miss Stirling was very activly involved in the drive to have the government pass legislation for the prevention of cruelty to children. Her organization, the Edinburgh and Leith Children's Society was the forerunner to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in Scotland.

In 1885, Miss Stirling leased a farm in Nova Scotia with two dwellings on the property. Hillfoot Farm, as it was known, had orchards, barns, saw mill, grist mill etc.

In 1886, Miss Stirling brought her first group of children to Aylesford, Nova Scotia sailing on the Caspianon May 25, 1886. The vessel sailed by way of Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland and then to St. John's, Newfoundland, arriving at Halifax on June 5. The passenger list states that there were 5 boys and 19 girls in the party. They were:

Tkt. Name Age

39490 McPherson, Henry 22

McIvor [McIver?], Hugh 13

39491 Duncan, Mary 18

Ross, Margaret 16

Callender, Jane 18

Fagan, Grace 11

Lukes, Grace 11

Kerr, Rose 10

39492 Greenwood, Margaret 11

McLauchlan, Agnes 5

Lindsay, Mary 11

Wardlan, Agnes 9

Main, Agnes 10

Melinyer, Annie 12

Stoneman, Elsie 9

McIver [McIvor?], Lizzie 11

39494 Delaney, Bessie 7

Auld, Mary 6

Archer, Jeannie 10

Black, William 2

Wardlan, Margaret 7

Lang, William 3

Collins, Lizzie 6

Collins, Davie 3

She continued this work until 1895 when the main building on the farm was burned to the ground. Miss Stirling also helped Dr. Middlemore place his children from 1893 until 1895 until he built his own receiving home near Halifax.

The Genealogical Society of Nova Scotia has some information on Hillfoot Farm.

Records:

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

Tkt.	Name	Age
39490	McPherson, Henry	22
	McIvor [McIver?], Hugh	13
39491	Duncan, Mary	18
	Ross, Margaret	16
	Callender, Jane	18
	Fagan, Grace	11
	Lukes, Grace	11
	Kerr, Rose	10
39492	Greenwood, Margaret	11
	McLauchlan, Agnes	5
	Lindsay, Mary	11
	Wardlan, Agnes	9
	Main, Agnes	10
	Melinyer, Annie	12
	Stoneman, Elsie	9
	McIver [McIvor?], Lizzie	11
39494	Delaney, Bessie	7
	Auld, Mary	6
	Archer, Jeannie	10
	Black, William	2
	Wardlan, Margaret	7
	Lang, William	3
	Collins, Lizzie	6
	Collins, Davie	3