People Archives - Page 7 of 11 - Waterloo County House of Industry and Refuge

Catharine Chipchase

The above image is of the Hamilton Insane Asylum taken circa 1910 in the Public Domain, courtesy of the Toronto Public Library Archives. Catharine may have arrived from London to Canada in 1876, on the “Peruvian” ship, docking in Quebec, accompanied by William and Robert Chipchase. Catharine arrived at the Poorhouse in December 1877. She was discharged from the House just a few months later on March 8, 1879 and was “Sent to Gaol as Dangerous lunatic”. She was accompanied by another inmate, Frederick Helwig, who were both too dangerous to be staying at the House. ...

Edwin Murphy

Edwin was admitted to the Poorhouse on November 5th 1877, after having shot himself in the chest with a revolver.

Susan Parker

Susan Parker entered the Poorhouse in 1876 with her four children after being deserted by her husband, John Parker.

Isabella Ruler and Children

Isabella Ruler gave birth to twins in the Poorhouse in 1876.

William Henry Pope

William Henry Pope came to the Poorhouse at 19 years old out of destitution. He had a few family members that lived in the Queen’s Bush Black Settlement in the nineteenth century. He eventually died in the House in 1877 and was buried in the House of Refuge cemetery.

Lucinda Potter

Lucinda Potter had a very difficult and isolated childhood, entering the Poorhouse when she was just 9 years old and then being sent back and forth four times from the House to families wanting to use her for child labour in their farms and houses.

Category: People

Catharine Chipchase

Edwin Murphy

Susan Parker

Isabella Ruler and Children

William Henry Pope

Lucinda Potter

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