Henry, william, alice and james hart

Subject Names :  Henry Hart (b 1867 – d 1948)
                              William Hart (b 1869 – d 1921)
                              Alice Hart (b 1871 – d ?)
                              James Hart (b 1873 – d 1953)

Researcher :       Viv Bennett

Four deserted children from the Hart family – Henry, William, Alice and James – were resident in the Guildford Union Workhouse in 1881, but from such dark beginnings, at least three of them were to find success either in England or the United States, thanks in part to the foresight of the Guildford Union Board of Guardians.

The children’s parents were Charles Henry Hart and Jane Charlotte Sawyer, who married on 9th July 1865 at All Saints Church, Wandsworth, London 1.  Charles was a 24-year-old coachman while Jane, with no occupation noted, was 23.

Charlotte was their first child born on 27th January 1866, so it seems likely that Jane was pregnant at the time of her marriage 2.  The family were living at 16 St Alban’s Road, Kensington with Charles, a groom.

Charles Henry, sometimes known just by his middle name, was next, born on 15th October 1867 3.  The family home was now at 18 The Row, Brompton, Kensington, one of many moves made by them.  William followed on 21st October 1869 when the family was living at 7 Hollywood Mews, Brompton 4.

At some point during the next 18 months, the family moved out of west London to Guildford.  This may be because father Charles was born there, but all was not going well, as on the 1871 Census he was an unemployed cab driver 5.  Charles, along with wife Jane, and children Charlotte (5), Henry (3) and William (1), were lodgers in the household of another cab man, Henry Jackman, at North Square, Guildford.

However, Charles was back at work again as a coachman later that year when their second daughter Alice Ann was born on 2nd October 1871 6.  The family were now living at Milkhouse Gate, Guildford.

Their fifth child, James, was born on 25th August 1873 at The Mint, Godalming, the family’s latest home 7.

By 1875, they had moved to Park Place, Farnham, as shown on the admission records of Charlotte, William and Alice to the town’s East Street Girls and Infants School 8.   However, the trio were only there a few months, as they were all withdrawn from the school on 11th October 1875.  What could have been the reason for this?   It may just be that they moved to a school with no retained records as was probably the case with their brother Charles Henry, but as their mother Jane was expecting her sixth child, she may have needed help at home from the children when husband Charles was out working.

On 31st March 1876, Jane gave birth to George in the Farnham Union Workhouse 9.  Charles, while noted as a groom on the birth certificate, was also a resident of the Workhouse, so it has to be assumed that their children, aged between 10 and 2 – Charlotte, Henry, William, Alice and James – were there too. 

Sadly, Jane was suffering from phthisis (a form of tuberculosis), passing away just ten days later age 34 in the Farnham Union Workhouse 10.

More tragedy soon followed, as baby George died from tuberculosis and asthenia (physical weakness) on 7th August 1876 age 4 months 11.  He passed away at George Street, Godalming, where his father Charles, a fly (small cab) driver, was now living. 

This sad certificate of George’s passing is the last official record found for the children’s father Charles, although later information was to show that he was soon to desert his children and could not be traced 32.

Although Charles’s five other children may well have been with him in Godalming at the time of their brother George’s death, Charles would have struggled to bring them up on his own.  This may well have been when Charles abandoned them as, at some stage, the four youngest children, and most probably Charlotte too, found themselves in the Guildford Union Workhouse.  There are no admission records to show when this happened, but a note from the Guildford Board of Guardians Minutes of 9th March 1878 reporting on Workhouse children at Stoke National School indicated they were residents by then: ‘C. Hart threw a stone under the Gates when shut which chanced to hit the Porter on the ankle. Boys reprimanded’ 12.

The 1881 Census confirmed that four of the Harts – Henry (13), William (11), Alice (9) and James (7) – were inmates and scholars of the Guildford Union 13.  The eldest of the quintet, 15-year-old Charlotte, was visiting relatives in South Street, Guildford and listed as a general domestic servant, the training for which she may well have received whilst in the Workhouse 14. 

What happened to the Hart children after 1881?

Apart from Henry, their lives were to remain interwoven for many years.  Henry, though, was to go on to help provide care for children, much as he had experienced in his own life.

(Charles) Henry Hart

In the 1881 Census, Henry was 13 and would have been due to leave the Guildford Union Workhouse, having completed his schooling and probable training for the outside world.  No records have been found to show where he first went after leaving the Workhouse, nor has he been traced on the 1891 Census. 

The first record found is his marriage to spinster Flora Jane Bull, age 22, at Sevington, near Ashford, Kent on 1st June 1895 15.  Using his full name of Charles Henry Hart, he was a 26-year-old bachelor and machinist, a skill he would have learnt since leaving the Workhouse.  The certificate said that his father was deceased, although this has not been proven to be true.

The couple had just the one child, Flora Elizabeth, born in 1896 16.  The 1901 and 1911 Censuses showed the three of them living at Ashdown Cottage, Sevington where Charles, as he now called himself, was employed as a railway painter, probably at the nearby South Eastern and Chatham Railway Works at Ashford 17, 18, 19.

Although Charles’s wife Flora had no occupation listed in either of those Censuses, she was clearly planning the family’s future, as the Kentish Express reported on 22nd March 1913 that ‘Mrs F Hart and Miss Flora Hart, both of Sevington, were appointed respectively as foster mother and assistant at the Cottage Homes’, a children’s home which was part of the East Ashford Union Workhouse at Willesborough 20.

Charles soon became involved as well, with the East Ashford Children’s Homes Committee appointing him and wife Flora in 1915 as foster parents at ‘£70 per annum, with the usual rations, with their daughter to continue as assistant’ 21.

Charles, at 48, was too old when conscription began for World War 1 in 1916, but he did sign up for the Royal Air Force age 50 on 7th October 1918, just over a month before the Armistice 22.  He was described on his record as 5 ft 3in (1.60m) tall, dark-haired and a sallow complexion with a ‘VG’ (very good) character and a ‘Sup’, presumably superior, degree of proficiency as a machinist.   Charles was transferred to the RAF Reserve on 5th February 1919 until he was discharged from service on 30th April 1920.

The 1921 Census showed his family to be running a children’s home in Charing, a village just to the north of Ashford, Kent 23.  Flora, 47, was the Poor Law Superintendent appointed by the West Ashford Union Board of Guardians.  Rather unusually for that time, she was noted as the head of the household over husband Charles, age 53, who was a self-employed ‘house decorator’.  Their daughter Flora, 25, was a foster mother at the Home with ten ‘inmates’ aged from 16 down to three under their charge.

By the time the 1939 Register was taken, both Charles, 72, and Flora, 66, had retired and were living at Rosemary, The Leas, East Ashford 24.  Their daughter Flora had married Albert Henry Skeates in 1931 and they were in Minster on Sea, on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent 25, 26.

At some stage, Charles and Flora also moved to Minster, where Charles passed away age 81 on 20th November 1948 27.  Flora remained in Minster until her death on 30th March 1952, age 78 28.

Alice and James Hart to Canada

Alice and James, the two youngest of the Hart children, remained in the Guildford Union Workhouse after 1881. 

In early 1883, the Guildford Board of Guardians started to consider sending orphaned or deserted children to Canada 29.   A number of child migration schemes were already in place in England including that run by John T. Middlemore who, since 1873 from his base in Birmingham, had been taking disadvantaged children from around the country to a receiving home in London, Ontario, from where the children would be sent to a suitable family to live with 30, 31.

The Guildford Union’s reasoning to follow this path was partly economic – the cost of feeding, clothing and educating a child at 3 shillings per week/£7 10s per year (15p/£7.50) when set against the emigration costs would pay for itself in 18 months.

The Board also felt that the children would be more likely to ‘make better members of society’ and stand a better chance of earning a living in Canada.  The Chairman of the Board of Guardians, Mr Halsey, said that he ‘knew from personal experience in Canada that the children were exceedingly well looked after, and much sought for. They had good homes, and a much better prospect than they could have in this country’. However, he did admit ‘It was an experiment on the part of the Board, but it had been thoroughly well thought out’, the Victorian mind-set seemingly overlooking the possible emotional trauma that could be caused to children separated from everyone and everything that they knew.

In May 1883 the Clerk of the Guildford Union wrote to the Local Government Board stating ‘…. The Guardians of this Union wish to emigrate to Canada the following Children namely Alice Hart, aged 11 and James Hart aged 9. Brother and Sister. Mother dead and Father has deserted them for more than 3 years and is a very bad character. He cannot be found although a Warrant has been out against him for a long time’ 32.  The Local Government Board approved, provided that ‘the children would signify their willingness before the Justice at Petty Sessions’ 33.

The following month, Alice and James, along with fellow Guildford Union Workhouse inmates Frederick and Horace Fowler 34, were seen off from Guildford by Mr Halsey himself.  They were then taken by Mrs Davis, the Matron, to Mr Middlemore’s Children’s Emigration Home in Birmingham 35.   

There they joined a group of 125 children from workhouses around the country and on 7th June, sailed on the SS Circassian from Liverpool, arriving in Quebec eleven days later and then onwards to Mr. Middlemore’s Guthrie House base in London, Ontario 36, 37, 38, 39. 

Alice and James’ placements

Alice was sent to live with the Moncrief family in Petrolia, Ontario, about 100km west of Guthrie House.  She appeared to settle in well.  In November 1884 she wrote an ‘affectionate and cheering’ letter to Miss Spottiswoode, one of the Guildford Board of Guardians 40.

A report some two years later said Alice was ‘quite healthy, happy and contented’ 41.

James meanwhile went to Mr Walter Menhenick on a farm in Thamesville, Ontario, about 50km south of where his sister was – no consideration was given to keep siblings together. 

A report written in about 1887 when James was 14 said that ‘he suits Mr M. very well…brought up as one of their own’ 42.

These reports on James and Alice, and other Guildford children sent to Canada including
Walter Shires who had been in the Workhouse with them 43, were seen by the Guildford Board of Guardians, who expressed satisfaction that ‘the experiment has justified the claims put forward on behalf of this new system of emigration, and that the children are doing well’, although they did ignore a couple of reports of troublesome children who had to be returned to the Guthrie Home! 44

Alice disappears

Alice’s life, though, was to take a serious turn, as the 1891 Census showed 18-year-old Alice with a seven-month-old baby ‘Chas’ at a mother and baby home back in London, Ontario 45.  Unfortunately, no records have been uncovered regarding Chas’s birth nor what happened to the two of them following that Census.  The 1901 and 1911 England Censuses do show an unmarried Alice Hart of the correct age born in Guildford working as a domestic servant in Hampshire, but with no other evidence found to back this up, it can only be a possibility that this is her 46, 47.

James marries

Alice’s brother James in 1891 was an 18-year-old apprentice to harness maker James Ward and his family in Oil Springs, Ontario, a short distance north of his first placement in Thamesville 48.  Five years later, he married Emma Dartch in Oil Springs on 3rd April 1896 49.  The certificate noted his parents’ names as ‘James and Martha Hart’, but as he would have had little or no memory of either of them, it is not surprising that he was incorrect.

James and Emma had two sons both with names reflecting their father’s British heritage – George Loyd in 1896 and Virgil Kitchener two years later 50, 51. 

The 1901 Canada Census showed 27-year-old James to be a saddler, living with his family in Woodstock, Ontario, about 90 miles (140km) east of Oil Springs 52.

Hart family reunion

In 1907, James’ eldest sister Charlotte Searle, without her husband Ben, emigrated to Detroit, United States with six of her children 53, 54.  The passage had been paid for by Charlotte and James’ brother William who was a rigger boarding at 620 Junction Avenue, Detroit, which is where Charlotte was heading 55.  James was now also living there, noted as a stitcher 56.  Whether James’ wife Emma and children were there as well is not known. They may have already separated as she was to divorce James in 1911 on the grounds of ‘cruelty and non-support’ 57.

Exactly when William had emigrated to the US is unclear.  After being in the Guildford Union Workhouse in 1881 as an 11-year-old, he has not been traced until the 1901 England Census.  At that time he was living with his sister Charlotte Searle and two of her children in Acton, west London, age 30.  Unmarried, and a laundry carman, his name was written in error by the enumerator as William Searle 58.  Although Charlotte said on that Census that she was a widow, her husband Ben was named as father on the birth certificate of her youngest child Lilian, born just a few months before emigrating in 1907 59.

By 1908 Charlotte, William and James were living at 425 Lemay Avenue, Detroit 60.  Charlotte and William continued to live together, regularly moving addresses 61, 62.

The 1910 US Census showed 42-year-old Charlotte, a laundress, and four of her children at 4a Fort Street, Ward 11, Wayne, Detroit 63.  35-year-old William was a ‘chauffeur for an auto company’. No record has been found in this Census for James and his family, possibly explained by the likely upheaval ahead of his imminent divorce from Emma.

Charlotte remained in Detroit, at times sharing a home with William in the 1910s, though James’ whereabouts remain unclear.  However, after the US entered World War 1 in April 1917, James reappears, enlisting in November that year at the age of 44, becoming a sergeant in the repair section of the Motor Transport Corps Repair Section in Washington DC 64.  Any doubts about James, Charlotte and William not actually being the siblings from Surrey because of inaccuracies previously mentioned could now be discounted as James’ birth date matches up with the Godalming birth certificate – 25th August 1873.

James was discharged from the Army on 20th June 1919 and was back in Detroit on New Year’s Day 1920 for his marriage to 38-year-old German-born Delia Meyer 65.  Both were noted as ‘auto trimmers’ so it would seem that his early training in working with leather had been put to good use.  James had his son Loyd as a witness.

An unexpected move

The 1920 US Census, though, did not show James and Delia to be living in Detroit.  Instead, they were almost 1,000 miles (1,600km) south on Sapelo Island, Georgia, living with James’ sister Charlotte, plus her 15-year-old son William, and next door to James and Charlotte’s brother William 65.  James, 45, was a ‘farmer foreman’ with his wife Delia, 38, a housewife.  Charlotte, 50, was the ‘acting post mistress’.  Most improbably of all, perhaps, was that 48-year-old William was the ‘Caretaker Island’ living in a separate lodging.  He had already been on Sapelo Island for a number of years 74.

The reason for this rather unlikely scenario was that their employer, Howard E Coffin, co-founder and vice-president of the Hudson Motor Car Company in Detroit, had bought a large part of Sapelo Island and its surrounds back in 1912 which he was considering turning into a tourist destination 67, 68.  William may have been Howard Coffin’s chauffeur, or worked for the Hudson Car Company, as hinted at in the 1910 Census. Whatever the connection, it was decided that William was the right person to have the responsibility of looking after Sapelo Island.  Coffin himself was going to be fully occupied as he became a member of US President Woodrow Wilson’s Council of National Defense during the nation’s involvement in World War 1.

The 1920 US Census identified 299 people living on Sapelo Island, all of whom apart from the five members of the Hart family were born and raised in Georgia, chiefly working on small farms 69.  The Census also noted that all these residents were ‘B’ (black) while the Hart family were noted as ‘W’ (white).  Most, if not all of the locals, were descendants of former plantation slaves that were emancipated after the American War of Independence ended in 1865.

Development of Sapelo Island, including the rebuilding of the former slave plantation mansion South End House was well under way, where Howard Coffin would soon host guests such as US Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover as well as aviator Charles Lindbergh.  Sadly, William and Charlotte were not to see this happen as both lost their lives to illness in 1921 within a few weeks of each other 70, 71. 

William died from appendicitis on 19th October, just two days before his 52nd birthday while Charlotte passed away on 5th November age 55 from an intestinal obstruction.   Both were buried at the St Andrews Cemetery in Darien, on the Georgia mainland close to Sapelo Island 72, 73.

William’s obituary said that he ‘was prominent in the secret order circles being a member of the Masons and the Odd Fellows and was held in high esteem by all who knew him’.  He had ‘been in charge of Sapelo for the past five years’ 74.

James was the informant on both of his siblings’ death certificates.  Although he and wife Delia were then still on Sapelo Island, with Delia having taken over Charlotte’s role as postmaster 80, by the time of the 1930 US Census they had moved to mainland Georgia. James was back in his old job as an ‘auto trimmer’ at 23 Ridgeville, Darien 75.  They were home owners, with the Census giving its value as $3000.

The Census ten years later showed that they were still in Darien 76.  67-year-old James was an auto trimmer at an automobile factory, but when the Census was taken he was ‘unable to work’ (probably retired).  In 1950, James, 77 and Delia, 68 were living in 2nd Street, Darien 77.

James passed away in Darien on 12th February 1953, age 79. He was given a military veterans’ headstone in the St Andrews Cemetery, where his siblings Charlotte and William were also interred 78, 79.  His wife Delia died ten years later on 16th June 1963 age 81 in Florida, and was buried alongside James in Darien 80.

Whatever the rights and wrongs were about forced emigration of children from England, it is certain that James’ life was transformed and led to a remarkable reunion with his siblings William and Charlotte.  Along with their brother Charles Henry’s work back home for under privileged children, they all showed great drive and ambition, some credit for which must go to the Guildford Union Board of Guardians for having given the Harts the opportunity to achieve what they did.

November 2023, updated March 2024

 

REFERENCES

References are from Ancestry.co.uk / Ancestry.com unless otherwise stated 

  1. Charles Henry Hart & Jane Charlotte Sawyer Marriage 9 Jul 1865. London Metropolitan Archives; London Church of England Parish Registers; Wandsworth, All Saints 1861-1921; ref P95/ALL/008; page 48.
  2. Charlotte Hart Birth 27 Jan 1866. Jan-Feb-Mar 1866; Kensington, London; Vol 1a; Page 111. Copy of original certificate from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  3. Charles Henry Hart Birth Oct-Nov-Dec 1867; Kensington, London; Vol 1a; Page 138
    Charles Henry Hart Baptism 3 Nov 1867 (born 15 Oct 1867) London Metropolitan Archives; London Church of England Parish Registers; Brompton, Holy Trinity 1846-1905; ref P84/Tri2/006; page 31.
  4. William Hart Baptism 5 Dec 1869 (born 21 Oct 1869) London Metropolitan Archives; London Church of England Parish Registers; West Brompton, St Mary 1850-1889; ref P84/Mry1/002; page 51.
  5. Henry, Louisa, Harry Jackman; Charles, Jane, Charlotte, Henry, William Hart 1871 England Census for North Square, Stoke Next Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG10; Piece 811; Folio 87; Page 2.
  6. Alice Ann Hart Birth 2 Oct 1871 Oct-Nov-Dec 1871; Guildford; Vol 2a; Page 65
    Copy of original certificate from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
    Alice Ann Hart Baptism 25 Oct 1871 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Guildford, St Mary 1855-1876; ref Gum/4/1-3; page 85.
  7. James Hart Birth 25 Aug 1873 Oct-Nov-Dec 1873; Guildford; Vol 2a; Page 71
    Copy of original certificate from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  8. Charlotte Hart birth 27/1/66, admission 31/5/75, withdrawal 11/10/75
    Alice Hart birth 2/10/71, admission 21/6/75, withdrawal 11/10/75
    William Hart birth 15/10/69 sic, admission 21/6/75, withdrawal 11/10/75
    Surrey History Centre, Woking; National Schools Admission Registers & Log Books 1870-194; Admissions Register; Farnham East Street British Board/Council School (Girls and Infants); ref CC387/3. FindMyPast.co.uk
  9. George Hart Birth 31 Mar 1876 Apr-May-Jun 1876; Farnham, Surrey; Vol 2a; Page 113
    Copy of original certificate from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  10. Jane Hart Death 10 Apr 1876 Apr-May-Jun 1876; Farnham, Surrey; Vol 2a; Page 65
    Copy of original certificate from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
    Jane Hart Burial 15 Apr 1876 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Farnham, St Andrew Burial Ground 1856-1883; ref 7093/1/1/44; page 90.
    Jane Charlotte Sawyer Birth Apr-May-Jun 1842; Wandsworth & Clapham; Vol 4; Page 501
  11. George Henry Hart Death 7 Aug 1876 Jul-Aug-Sep 1876; Guildford, Surrey; Vol 2a; Page 53 Copy of original certificate from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  12. C Hart 9 Mar 1878 Woking; Guildford Poor Law Union Minute Book 1878, ref BG6/11/19, page 194. Available at Surrey History Centre, Woking
  13. Henry, William, Alice, James Hart 1881 England Census for Guildford Union Workhouse, Stoke Next Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG11; Piece 778; Folio 90; Pages 2 and 4.
  14. Ann, James, Sally, Ada, William, Anne Hart. Charlotte Hart 1881 England Census for 5 South Street, Guildford Holy Trinity, Surrey. Reference RG11; Piece 778; Folio 4; Pages 1 and 2.
  15. Charles Henry Hart & Flora Jane Bull Marriage 1 Jun 1865. Kent History & Library Centre; Kent Marriages and Banns; Sevington, St Mary 1838-1962; ref P331/1/DA2; page 26. FindMyPast.co.uk
  16. Flora Elizabeth Hart Birth 1896 Apr-May-Jun 1896; East Ashford, Kent; Vol 2a; Page 818
  17. Charles H, Flora, Flora Hart. Charlotte Hart 1901 England Census for Ashdown Cottage, Sevington, East Ashford, Kent; Class RG13; Piece 786; Folio 25; Page 1.
  18. Charles Henry, Flora Jane, Flora Elizabeth Hart 1911 England Census for Ashdown Cottage, Sevington, Ashford, Kent; Class RG14; ED 12; Piece 4283.
  19. South Eastern and Chatham Railway, Ashford Railway Works Wikipedia.org
  20. East Ashford Board of Guardians 22 Mar 1913, Kentish Express and Ashford News, page 5. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  21. East Ashford Board of Guardians 15 May 1915, Kentish Express and Ashford News, page 6. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  22. Charles Henry Hart Attested 7 Oct 1918. The National Archives, Kew; British Royal Air Force, Airmen’s Service Records 1912-1939; ref AIR 79/2644; service no 304384. FindMyPast.co.uk
  23. Flora J, Flora E, Charles H Hart 1921 England Census for Calehill, Egerton, West Ashford, Kent; Class RG15; ED 7; Piece 04282; schedule 117. FindMyPast.co.uk
  24. Charles H, Flora J Hart 1939 England and Wales Register for East Ashford, Kent; Reference RG 101/1818b; Enumeration District DJGU; schedule 56
  25. Flora E Hart & Albert H Skeates Marriage Jan-Feb-Mar 1931; West Ashford, Kent; Vol 2a; Page 1549
  26. Albert H, Flora E Skeates 1939 England and Wales Register for Minster Rd, Sheppey, Kent; Reference RG 101/1846c; Enumeration District DJRF; schedule 390
  27. Charles Henry Hart Death 20 November 1948, Probate 4 Feb 1949. Principal Probate Registry; England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995
  28. Flora Elizabeth Hart Death 30 March 1952, Probate 2 May 1952. Principal Probate Registry; England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995
  29. Board of Guardians Emigration of Pauper Children 2 Jun 1883, West Surrey Times and Guildford Gazette, page 8. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  30. Our Story, Home Children Canada BritishHomeChildren.com
  31. Children’s (Middlemore) Emigration Homes, Birmingham, Warwickshire Childrenshomes.org.uk
  32. Letter from Guildford Union to Local Government Board 19 May 1883. The National Archives, Kew; Local Government Board and predecessors, Correspondence with Government Offices; Colonial Office Emigration to Canada; reference MH 19/11.  Available at The National Archives.
  33. Emigration of Pauper Children 28 May 1883 The Surrey Advertiser and County Times, page 3. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  34. Frederick, Horace Fowler 1881 England Census for Guildford Union Workhouse, Stoke Next Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG11; Piece 778; Folio 93; Page 7.
  35. Emigration 9 Jun 1883, The Surrey Advertiser and County Times, page 2. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  36. Mr J.T. Middlemore’s Emigration Homes 5 Jun 1883 Birmingham Daily Post, page 6. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  37. SS Circassian Migrant Ships, Mitchell Families Online MFO.me.uk
  38. Alice Ann Hart British Home Children Registry, ID# 7331. BritishHomeChildren.com
  39. James Hart British Home Children Registry, ID# 7333, BritishHomeChildren.com
  40. Alice Hart, Emigrant Pauper Children 29 Nov 1884, The West Surrey Times and Guildford Gazette, page 5. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  41. Alice Hart Pauper Children in Canada 1886-87; 16th Annual Report, Great Britain; Appendix B, report from Mr A Smith The National Archives, Kew, England; Ministry of Health; Report on pauper child emigrants resident in Canada 1887-1892; reference MH19. CanadianBritishHomeChildren.weebly.com/Inspection-reports-of-workhouse-children
  42. James Hart Pauper Children in Canada 1886-87; 16th Annual Report, Great Britain; Appendix B, report from Mr A Smith The National Archives, Kew, England; Ministry of Health; Report on pauper child emigrants resident in Canada 1887-1892; reference MH19. CanadianBritishHomeChildren.weebly.com/Inspection-reports-of-workhouse-children
  43. Walter Shires 1881 England Census for Guildford Union Workhouse, Stoke Next Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG11; Piece 778; Folio 90; Page 6.
  44. Alice Hart, James Hart, Walter Shires 17 Sep 1887 Guildford Pauper Children in Canada West Surrey Times and County Express, page 6 FindMyPast.co.u
  45. Alice Hart, Chas Hart 1891 Census of Canada for Ward 2, London City, Ontario; roll T-6351; family no 10, pages 12 and 13.
  46. Alice Hart 1901 England Census for Warnford, Hampshire. Reference RG13; Piece 1089; Folio 35; Page 7.
  47. Alice Hart 1911 England Census for Meonstoke, West Meon, Hampshire. Reference RG14; Piece 6153; schedule 12.
  48. James Hart 1891 Census of Canada for Oil Springs, Lambton East, Ontario; roll T-6347; family no 58, page 12.
  49. James Hart & Emma Dartch Marriage 3 Apr 1896 Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Marriages 1869-1928; Oil Springs, Lambton; reel 89
  50. George Loyd Hart Birth 18 Sep 1897 Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Births and Stillbirths 1869-1913; Lambton County; reel 138; record group Rg 80-2.
  51. Virgil Kitchner Hart Birth 20 Nov 1899 Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Births and Stillbirths 1869-1913; Lambton County; reel 146; record group Rg 80-2.
  52. Hart Jas, Emma, Geo L, Virgil K 1901 Census of Canada for Woodstock, Oxford North, Ontario; family no 37, page 4.
  53. Charlotte Hart & Ben Searle Marriage 10 Aug 1885. Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Stoke-Next-Guildford, St John the Evangelist 1883-1893; ref Stk/2/7; page 44.
  54. Charlotte, Percy, Wilfreda, Charlotte, Jane, Willie, infant depart London 29 Oct 1907, arrival 10 Nov 1907 Quebec, SS Pomeranian, destination Detroit. Manifests of Passengers Arriving at St Albans, Vt, District Through Canadian Pacific and Atlantic Ports 1895-1954; NAI 4492490; Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service 1787-2004; record group number 85; series number M1464; roll number 064.
  55. Wm Hart bds (boarder) 620 Junction Av US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1907, page 1208.
  56. Jas Hart bds (boarder) 620 Junction Av US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1907, page 1208.
  57. James Hart Emma Hart 19 Aug 1911 Divorce date of final action Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing Michigan; Michigan Divorce Records 1897-1923; 1911 Wayne – 1913 Emmet, page 375, state file number 39, 045.
  58. Charlotte, Percy V, Wilfreda. William Searle sic 1901 England Census for Acton, Ealing, Middlesex. Reference RG13; Piece 1203; Folio 75; Page 7.
  59. Lillian May Searle Birth 6 May 1907. Apr-May-Jun 1907; Brentford; Vol 3a; Page 164. Copy of original certificate from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  60. Charlotte Searle 1908 housekpr 425 Lemay US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1908, page 1929.
    Wm Hart 1908 h (homeowner) 425 Lemay US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1908, page 1137.
    Jas Hart 1908 bds (boarder) 425 Lemay US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1907, page 1137.
  61. Charlotte Searle 1909 bds (boarder) 148 Chene US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1909, page 1896.
    Wm Hart 1909 h (homeowner) 148 Chene US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1908, page 1124.
  62. Charlotte Searle 1911 h (homeowner) 632 Fort US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1909, page 2122.
    1912 h (homeowner) 632 Fort US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1912, page 2122.
    1913 h (homeowner) 708 Congress US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1913, page 2124.
    1914 h (homeowner) 507 Fort US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1914, page 2124.
    1915 h (homeowner) rear 695 Fort US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1915 , page 2137.
    1916 h (homeowner) rear 695 Fort US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1916 , page 2334.
    Wm Searle 1914 h (homeowner) 507 Fort US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1914, page 1132.
    1915 h (homeowner) rear 695 Fort US City Directories 1882-1995; Detroit, Michigan, City Directory 1915, page 1192.
  63. William Hart. Charlotte, Percy, Wilfreda, Charlotte, William 1910 United States Federal Census for 632 Fort St, Detroit Ward 11, Wayne, Michigan; roll T624_685; page 4a; enumeration district 0159.
  64. James Hart enlistment 27 Nov 1917, discharge 20 Jun 1919, death 12 Feb 1953. St Andrews Cemetery, Darien, Georgia National Archives Washington DC, USA; Applications for Headstones for US Military Veterans 1925-1970; NAID 596118; Record Group Number 92; Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General.
  65. James Hart & Delia Meyer Marriage 1 Jan 1920, Detroit. Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics Lansing, Michigan; Michigan Marriage Records 1867-1952; film 148, 1919 Wayne; entry 187315.
  66. James, Delia Hart; Charlotte, William Searle; William Hart 1920 United States Federal Census for Sapelo Island, McIntosh, Georgia; roll T625_266; page 3B; enumeration district 135.
  67. Howard Coffin 1873-1937 New Georgia Encylopedia, Business & Economy, Companies & Industries, Construction & Real Estate Georgiaencyclopedia.org
  68. Sea Island Company New Georgia Encylopedia, Business & Economy, Companies & Industries, Construction & Real Estate Georgiaencyclopedia.org
  69. Sapelo Island Settlement and Land Ownership : An Historical Overview, 1865-1970 Occasional Papers of the Sapelo Island NERR (National Estuarine Research Reserve), vol 3, 2013, author Buddy Sullivan. Sapelonerr.org
  70. Wm Hart Death 19 Oct 1921 Georgia Department of Health and Vital Statistics, Atlanta Georgia; Georgia US Death Records 1914-1940; file number 24845.
  71. Charlotte Searle Death 5 Nov 1921 Georgia Department of Health and Vital Statistics, Atlanta Georgia; Georgia US Death Records 1914-1940; file number 29000.
  72. William Hart Burial (death 19 Oct 1921) St Andrews Cemetery, Darien, McIntosh County, Georgia, USA. Ancestry.com / FindAGrave.com
  73. Charlotte Hart Searle Burial (death 5 Nov 1921) St Andrews Cemetery, Darien, McIntosh County, Georgia, USA. Ancestry.com / FindAGrave.com
  74. William Hart Passes Away at City Hospital 20 Oct 1921 The Brunswick News, Brunswick, Georgia, USA. Ancestry.com / Newspapers.com
  75. James, Delia Hart 1930 United States Federal Census for Ridgeville, Militia District 271, McIntosh, Georgia; page 2A; enumeration district 0002; FHL microfilm 2340109.
  76. James, Delia Hart 1940 United States Federal Census for Ridgeville Darien, McIntosh, Georgia; roll m-t0627-00692; page 6B; enumeration district 95-2
  77. James, Delia Hart 1950 United States Federal Census for Darien, McIntosh, Georgia; roll 5814; page 2; enumeration district 95-7
  78. James Hart death 12 Feb 1953, born 25 Aug 1873 Application for Headstone or marker; St Andrews Cemetery   National Archives, Washington DC, USA; Applications for Headstones for US Military Veterans, 1925-1941; NAID 5696118; record group 92; Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General
  79. James Hart Burial (death 12 Feb 1923) St Andrews Cemetery, Darien, McIntosh County, Georgia, USA. Ancestry.com / FindAGrave.com
  80. Delia Hart Burial (death 16 Jun 1963 at Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida) St Andrews Cemetery, Darien, McIntosh County, Georgia, USA. Ancestry.com / FindAGrave.com
    Darien Funeral Set for Mrs. Delia Hart newspaper source unknown, posted on Memorial Page for Delia Meyer Hart, death 16 Jun 1963, FindAGrave.com