Mayor Ford's family tree includes "unruly" branch, says ancestry tracker

A news release from Ancestry.ca:

"Why is Rob Ford such a nonconformist mayor? From antagonistic run-ins with the media to his notorious outbursts on council floor, the source of Ford’s ways may lie in his family tree.

Ancestry.ca, Canada’s leading family history website, has recently uncovered that Rob Ford’s paternal grandfather, Ernest Ford, was sent to Canada from England as a part of the Child Immigration scheme. Moreover, historical records may suggest that Ernest was sent away because he was unruly.

Following the death of his mother in 1900, Ernest is listed in the 1901 British Census living with his widowed father and grandmother in Warwickshire, England. Despite having next of kin with whom he could have lived, Ernest was shortly after sent to Middlemore Homes, an institution known for taking in children who were either truants, disorderly or orphans for the purpose of being sent to Canada.

Between 1833 and 1939, approximately 100,000 children were sent to Canada from Great Britain. At the age of 11, Ernest can be found in the Canadian Passenger Lists migrating to Canada as a Home Child in 1902. He travelled with 32 other children in “steerage” aboard the ship Siberia.

These newly discovered facts are especially compelling as Rob Ford’s paternal grandfather later claimed that he was born in Canada. Ernest Ford reported that he was born in Portage Vale, New Brunswick on his military papers and marriage certificate, both of which can be found on Ancestry.ca. However, Ernest’s birth and christening records show he was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.

If Toronto’s mayor does come by his tendances through his paternal line, if history is any guide, perhaps there is hope for a more conciliatory Rob Ford in the future?

Ernest appears to have made great contributions to Canada following his arrival and was awarded a “Good Conduct Badge” in 1917 for his military service in the Great War, and three additional awards in the Canadian Expeditionary Force: a 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.

Ernest Ford was the father of Doug Ford Sr., the idol to sons Rob and Doug Jr. whose likeness still appears in a framed picture in the mayoral office. Doug Ford Sr., the rags-to-riches businessman, athlete and Conservative MPP in the Mike Harris government, passed away in 2006."

Comments

[Lori Oschefski]

As a 1st generation of a home child I am completely offended by the implication in this article!! It is not only completely offensive to Mr. Ford's ancestor who is a decorated war veteran of Canada, but to every CHILD who was brought to Canada in hopes of finding a better life, to find that they were only wanted for child labor on farms and in our households. Many of these children were mistreated very badly, punished with horsewhipping, beatings, kept in sheds and barns - treated like they were worthless. And this thought was perpetrated by ignorant articles such as this. One of the worst cases of treatment was a child by the name of George Everett Green who died with in 6 months of his arrival here. The vast majority of these children were turned over to organizations by their parents when they life situation made it difficult to cope, many families turned to them in desperation with the thought, marked heavily by propaganda spread by organizations such as Barnardo's, thinking they could provide them with a better life here in Canada. That never happened for many of these children. In spite of their ill treatment here, the vast majority grew up to become good members of Canadian life, many Lawyers, doctors, members of Parliament, Mayors, Mothers and Fathers. Many Home Children fought in our wars and many lost their lives in doing so.

I find this article to be completely disgusting and a low blow on your part for having to use children in this game. Shame shame on you!

[Dawn Heuston]

Sadly many British Home Children didn't even know their own birth dates, let alone their age. As for where they were born - most never admitted they were home children because of the stigma of shame that came with it. Shame put upon them, not done by them! Sad but true. Some never even told their own wife or children their origins. They certainly weren't sent here for being 'unruly!' Oh no. They were sent here to supply the Commonwealth with good British stock; to work as farm labourers and servants. Some were orphans, but most were not. They came from poor families, the streets, and Workhouses as well as orphanages. If the mayor is indeed a descendant of a British Home Child, he has much to learn and much to be proud of !!! The children overcame so much. They went on to help build this nation. They fought under our flag. Roughly 1 in 10 Canadians are a descendant of one of these 100,000 + and don't even know it... obviously, as this article shows. (Above comment was posted on the Welland Tribune web site as well)