Herbert Stanley (Bert) Fernee1

#21053, (1877 - 1961)
FatherAlfred Taylor Fernee2 (c 1850 - )
MotherElizabeth Newill2 (c 1851 - )
Relationship2nd great-grandson of Samuel Fernee
Extended Family
ChartsSamuel Fernee & Mary Harris - collapsible 6 generation descendant chart

Children of Herbert Stanley (Bert) Fernee and Esther Bruner
Overview
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Albert Fernee was born Herbert Stanley Fernee in 1877 in England. His father died sometime in the 1880s; his widowed mother married again in 1890. Although his siblings remained in England, Bertie went to the Fegan Home and on to Ontario, Canada in 1890 along with many other children. There he worked for a series of farmers, married, then moved to Michigan.

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BirthHerbert Stanley (Bert) Fernee was born in 1877 in Slough, Buckinghamshire.
[Once in Canada, he was inconsistent in reporting his birthplace and birthdate]2,1 
(with Parents) 1881 CensusHe appeared on the 1881 Census of St Pancras, Middlesex with his parents. Herbert S was 4 and born in Slough, Bucks.2 
Passenger ListHe was listed on a manifest dated 4 Apr 1890 for the SS Sarnia, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia from Liverpool. The second name on the attached page looks as though it says H Fernee, age 11 [sic]. The first name is F Fitzgerald.
This section of the list consisted of Fegan children and they were continuing on to Toronto by the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Note: the Fegan records named the ship and date and stated he was 14.3,4
H Fernee
Passenger List for the SS Sarnia, 1890
Note.Bertie spent 11 months in the Fegan Home where his character was recorded as, "Nice, good, quiet". Once in Canada he was placed with a series of Ontario farmers.

April 1890 - T.W. Mulholland -- York Mills
May 1891 - Peter McKenzie - Brigden
May 1893 - James Potter - Petrolia
May 1894 - David Bawtinhimer - Copetown
August 1894 - Wm Forster - Queen & Jarvis Sts, Toronto
February 1895 - Joseph Carroll - Grand Valley
March 1895 - Daniel McIntosh - Tiverton
June 1895 - Nathaniel McLaren - Tiverton
December 1895 - E.J. Jefferis - Orillia
December 1896 - E.H. Betts - Georgetown
May 1897 - Mr Wallace - Greenbank
November 1897 - E.H. Betts - Georgetown
May 1899 - E.H. Betts - Georgetown
July 1900 - At St Catharines


[I have not copied out all the details; ask if you would like them].4 
1891 Census Not with T W Mulholland in York Mills or with Peter McKenzie in Lambton County. Not found elsewhere yet. 
Research Note A good account of James William Condell Fegan and his organization is in Marjorie Kohli's book The Golden Bridge:Young Immigrants to Canada, 1833-1939. There are many sources to learn about the thousands of Canadian Home Children. 
1901 CensusHe appeared on the 1901 Census of Norwich, Oxford County, Ontario. Albert was a lodger with a baker's family, single, born June 18, 1879 in Ontario, age 21, Irish, Baptist, a Journeyman Baker who worked 12 months for $360.5 
MarriageHe married Esther Bruner on 3 Jun 1903 in Leamington, Essex County, Ontario.
Details from the certificate: Albert Fernee, 24, residence Leamington, birthplace Ireland, bachelor, Baker, parents Albert & Elizabeth Fernee.
Esther Bruner, 19, residence Kingsville, born Kingsville, spinster, parents Herman Bruner & Caroline Bennutts?
Witnesses were R.S. Beison of Leamington and Grace Bruner of Kingsville. Both Presbyterian, married by D Keith.6,7 
Passenger ListB Fernee was listed on a manifest dated Oct 1906 for the SS Virginian, arriving in Quebec from England. He traveled in steerage class and was noted to be a returning Canadian, age 28, married, occupation baker.8 
Passenger ListBert and Ester Fernee with their son Freddie M were listed on a Detroit border crossing card entering the United States, dated Dec 1908. Bert was 32, a baker, Canadian, of English origin, and the name of his nearest relative in the country from whence he came was his brother Percy Fernee in London, England. Ester was 25?, Canadian, nearest relative father Herman Brunner in Kingsville, Ontario. Freddie was 4 years old.9 
MilitaryBert Fernee completed a World War I registration card on 12 Sep 1918 in Michigan. Information included: address 122 Auburn Pontiac Oakland Mich, age 39, born August 13 1879, alien, English, self-employed with a partner as a Baker at 10 Center, Pontiac. Nearest relative was wife Mrs Ester Fernee. Bert was of medium height and build, with blue eyes and black hair.6 
1920 CensusBert and Esther appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan, at 122 Auburn. Bert owned his home free. He was 40, immigrated in 1889, had filed his first papers for naturalization, was born in England, parents born in England, and was a baker with his own bakery. Esther was 36, immigrated in 1910, was an alien, was born in Canada, and her parents were born in Canada. Their sons were Freddie (14), Therold (9), and Wilber (5). They also had one roomer.10 
1930 CensusBert S Fernee appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Elba Township, Lapeer County, Michigan. He was a widower, age 53, first married at 25, born in England, parents born in England, immigrated in 1889, naturalized, and was a farmer who owned his own farm. He was not a veteran. His children at home were Wilbert W (15), Jack E (9), and Marion J (8). They all attended school and the family owned a radio.11 
1940 CensusBert appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Elba, Lapeer County, Michigan. He was a widower, age 60, birthplace England, naturalized citizen, and was a farmer working on his own account. Bert had a 3rd grade education. With him were his children Jack (19, factory man) and Marion (18). They lived in the same house as in 1935.12 
DeathHerbert died in 1961.13
 
Last Edited18 Nov 2012

Citations

  1. FreeBMD. Herbert Stanley Fernee, Sep Q 1877, Eton RD.
  2. 1881 Census for England & Wales, RG11/206 folio 34.
  3. Passenger Lists, 1865-1935, Library and Archives Canada images, viewed at Ancestry. SS Sarnia, arrived in Halifax 4 April 1890.
  4. Fegan Home Canadian Records for B Fernee, Index #939, 1890-1900. Typescript extraction of Volume 2, p308-09 by I. Fry, 2010.
  5. 1901 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Oxford (101), Norwich Village (e-1), page 5.
  6. United States World War I Draft Cards. National Archives, online images viewed at Ancestry.com, Bert Fernee.
  7. Ontario Marriage Registration. Fernee/Bruner, #006478-03.
  8. Passenger Lists, 1865-1935, Library and Archives Canada images, viewed at Ancestry. SS Virginian, arrived in Quebec October 1906.
  9. Border Crossings: from Canada to U.S., 1895-1956, images (www.ancestry.com) "Bert Fernee family, Detroit, 1908."
  10. Online image of the 1920 Federal Census for United States (Heritage Quest, <www.heritagequest.com>), Michigan, Oakland County, 2-WD Pontiac, Roll 790, Page 22.
  11. 1930 Federal Census for United States, Michigan, Lapeer County, Elba Township, Roll 1006, ED 11, Page 7B. Image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  12. 1940 Federal Census for United States, Michigan, Lapeer County, Elba, ED 44-12, Page 10B. Image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  13. E-mails from Jerry Fernee to J Kolthammer.