"We are not so young and unsophisticated as to imagine that the farmers take our boys for love....The primary object of the farmers in taking a boy is that his services be useful to him"
Dr. Barnardo, April 1900 Ups and Downs
Indentureships & the Children's Work Contracts
a boy who, according
to the NAC database, came to Canada in September 1900 age 7
years.
--------------------[Agreement]--------------------------
AGREEMENT made in duplicate this <19th> day of <September
1904> between <Alfred B. Owen>, Agent of Dr Barnardo's
Homes and <John Employer> of the Township of <Eldon> in the
County of <Victoria> respecting the boy John Doe aged
_______ years, ['aged _______years' has been struck out, no
age being entered] recently an inmate of Dr. Barnardo's
Homes, and at present under the guardianship of said Homes.
WITNESSETH that the said <John Employer> agrees to engage
the said <John Doe> for a period from the <9th> day of
<July 1904>, and ending on the first day of <April, 1910>,
to furnish him during that period with Board, Lodging,
Washing, Clothing and necessaries, and to pay to Alfred B.
Owen, or other authorized Agent of Dr. Barnardo's Homes, in
trust for the said <John Doe> and for the sole use and
benefit of the said <John Doe> the sum of <One Hundred and
Twenty-five Dollars at the expiration of the above
mentioned period.>
IT IS AGREED, that this engagement may be terminated by
either party giving one month's notice of the same to the
other in writing, but the said Alfred B. Owen reserves to
himself, or other authorized Agent of Dr Barnardo's Homes,
the right to remove the said <John Doe> summarily and
without notice, should such action be rendered necessary if
any ill-treatment to the said <John Doe> should be
subjected.
IT IS AGREED, that should the engagement terminate prior to
the expiration of the above mentioned period, then the sum
of <One Hundred and Twenty-five> dollars shall be
proportioned as follows, and paid in that proportion by the
said <John Employer, Viz:- At rate of fifteen, twenty-five,
thirty-five and fifty dollars, per annum, respectively,
from the 1st day of April 1906 to the 1st day of April
1910.>
The said John Employer agrees to send the said <John Doe>
to school for at least four months in each year for a
period of <two> year<s>, to promote the attendance of the
said <John Doe> at Church and Sunday School, to communicate
occasionaly personally, or by letter, with the Agents of Dr
Barnardo's Homes, as to the progress and welfare of the
said <John Doe> and to co-operate generally with the agents
of the Homes in exercising judicious supervision over him,
and in promoting his interests and well-being.
WITNESS our hands
[sgd.] <J. A. Lake> [could be G. A. Lake] [sgd.] <Alfred
B Owen>
[sgd.] <A. Neighbour> [sgd.] <John
Employer>
----------------------
to the NAC database, came to Canada in September 1900 age 7
years.
--------------------[Agreement]--------------------------
AGREEMENT made in duplicate this <19th> day of <September
1904> between <Alfred B. Owen>, Agent of Dr Barnardo's
Homes and <John Employer> of the Township of <Eldon> in the
County of <Victoria> respecting the boy John Doe aged
_______ years, ['aged _______years' has been struck out, no
age being entered] recently an inmate of Dr. Barnardo's
Homes, and at present under the guardianship of said Homes.
WITNESSETH that the said <John Employer> agrees to engage
the said <John Doe> for a period from the <9th> day of
<July 1904>, and ending on the first day of <April, 1910>,
to furnish him during that period with Board, Lodging,
Washing, Clothing and necessaries, and to pay to Alfred B.
Owen, or other authorized Agent of Dr. Barnardo's Homes, in
trust for the said <John Doe> and for the sole use and
benefit of the said <John Doe> the sum of <One Hundred and
Twenty-five Dollars at the expiration of the above
mentioned period.>
IT IS AGREED, that this engagement may be terminated by
either party giving one month's notice of the same to the
other in writing, but the said Alfred B. Owen reserves to
himself, or other authorized Agent of Dr Barnardo's Homes,
the right to remove the said <John Doe> summarily and
without notice, should such action be rendered necessary if
any ill-treatment to the said <John Doe> should be
subjected.
IT IS AGREED, that should the engagement terminate prior to
the expiration of the above mentioned period, then the sum
of <One Hundred and Twenty-five> dollars shall be
proportioned as follows, and paid in that proportion by the
said <John Employer, Viz:- At rate of fifteen, twenty-five,
thirty-five and fifty dollars, per annum, respectively,
from the 1st day of April 1906 to the 1st day of April
1910.>
The said John Employer agrees to send the said <John Doe>
to school for at least four months in each year for a
period of <two> year<s>, to promote the attendance of the
said <John Doe> at Church and Sunday School, to communicate
occasionaly personally, or by letter, with the Agents of Dr
Barnardo's Homes, as to the progress and welfare of the
said <John Doe> and to co-operate generally with the agents
of the Homes in exercising judicious supervision over him,
and in promoting his interests and well-being.
WITNESS our hands
[sgd.] <J. A. Lake> [could be G. A. Lake] [sgd.] <Alfred
B Owen>
[sgd.] <A. Neighbour> [sgd.] <John
Employer>
----------------------
Maria Rye used 3 Application Forms (Gail Collins)
1 Form to be filled up by Person in Canada applying for Children
2 Form of Miss Rye’s Indenture of Service, and the following
3 Form of Miss Rye’s Indenture of Adoption
I believe Rye considered under 8 as minors and used the term
''adopted'' in the Inspection Records
This indenture, made the .... Day of .. in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and seventy ...., between Maria Susan Rye, Robert Notman Ball,
J.P. of the county of Lincoln, and Henry Paffard, Esquire, Mayor of the town
of Niagara, of the first part,
and ............. of the second part, for the purpose of being adopted into
his family, a minor child in the custody and under the protection of the
said Maria Susan Rye, Robert Notman Ball, and Henry Paffard,
and now at the age of ....... and the said parties of the first do hereby
transfer to the party of the second part all their right to and over the
said child, subject, however, to the provision herein-after contained;
and the said party of the second part, in consideration of the
delivery to him of the said child, and of the labour and services, love and
affection, NOTE LABOUR & SERVICE CAME BEFORE LOVE
to be received by him from the said child, doth hereby adopt the
said child, and take her for his own child, and doth also hereby covenant,
promise, and agree with and to the said parties of the first part, that the
said party of the second part will protect, maintain, EDUCATE and in all
respects regard and treat the said child as he does, would, or should do his
own lawful child; and that he will bring up the said child and cause it to
be instructed in the principles of the Protestant religion, and the said
part of the second part covenants with the said parties of the first part,
that in case of any breach of the covenant herein contained to be by him
performed he will forthwith, whenever requested so to do by the parties of
the first part, deliver up the said child to the custody of the said parties
of the first party. And further, it is hereby expressly understood and
agreed, that in case, during the minority of the said child, the party of
the second part shall die, or become incapable of carrying out, or neglect
to carry out, duly and regularly, all and singular the various obligations
imposed on him by this indenture, the parties of the first part
reserve to themselves the right of resuming their control over the said
child, or in taking such measures of securing her rights as they may be
advised. In witness whereof the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands
and seals the day and year first above written.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of ....................
I think Education fell by the wayside in many cases as many remained
on the farm to do their chores while the Guardians children went to school.
The term Adoption seems to be a loose word as many were moved to
new placements after a short term.