Keep, Esther Maria

Surname: Keep

First Name: Esther Maria

Age: 17

Year of Arrival: 1891

Sending Organization: Miss Rye

First Settlement: Caldwell P.O., Ont.

Name of Individual with whom first placed: Thomas Chambers

Child notes: Letter dated Feb. 4, 1892 from J.A. Donaldson, immigration agent at Toronto: They applied to Miss Rye for a girl, and Esther Keep was sent, but from the day she came they saw she would not suit them. She refused to do any kind of work about the house, and could not in any way be depen ded upon. Added to this she commenced to go around with the young fellows in the neighbourhood, and before she had been there a week they wrote Miss Rye to take her back as they could do nothing with her ... She had afterwards been sent by Miss Rye to a Mr. James Nelson ... The report here was similar to the first place, and they would not keep her on any consideration; and before she had been there a week they wrote Miss Rye that she must take her back at once. Miss Rye replied, stating that "her home was for girls, not for women and that she was of age (she had passed 18 years), and must look out for a place for herself." A few days, however, before receiving this letter she suddenly disappeared, leaving her box behind her. No one saw her go, nor have they been able to trace her. She stayed with Mrs. Nelson about two weeks altogether, leaving early in August. ... I heard from several parties that she stayed all night after leaving with some railway labourers in their car ... I think she must have left the neighbourhood ... From all I could learn about her I should judge her to be rather a weak minded girl, easily lled astray, and inclined to be rather loose. ...From a letter which she received from her mother ... it appears that she caused considerable trouble to the matron on the vessel coming across by her conduct with young men. Letter from Miss Rye dated March 4, 1892: This girl Esther Keep, 17 years old, left English 16th March 1891. I placed her (1) Mr. Thomas Chambers 18 May 1891. Badly reported 24 June. Returned herself to the Home [Our Western Home, Niagara, Ont.] about 16 June. Told the Chambers she was a married woman and had come to Canada to find her husband. Denied this statement to me but repeated it to my girls. Was placed (2) Mr. James Nelson, Kilmanagh, Ont., 25 July 1891. Very badly reported before she had been there a month and girl again said she was married and again left the situation of her own accord, but did not return here. Went (3) Mr. Hisborn, Mono Road Station, Ont., who were so distressed at her behaviour that they paid her fare from Mono Road Station to Queenston Heights on 27 Aug, but the girl never returned here and I have seen and heard no more of her since.

Title of Record: J. A. Donaldson - Report on case of girl Esther Keep

Source: Library and Archives Canada

Reference: RG 17, Department of Agriculture

File notes: Reports from J. A. Donaldson, immigration agent at Toronto and Miss Maria Rye, Our Western Home, Niagara, Canada

Volume Number: 713

File Number: 82490

Pages in file: 5