Robert Dixon, born in 1889, is 21 years old in 1911. His father William has steady employment at the Post Office as an Overseer. Robert’s mother Mary Hughs passed away at the young age of 27. This left William with 7 year old son Robert and 5 year old daughter Clara to raise by himself. It is not surprising then that William remarried a few years later. In 1911 then the family consists of Father William, step mother Mary Anne Fawcett , Robert and his sister Clara, as well as Roberts young half brother William Fawcett Dixon.
Robert has job as a shop assistant, but also has some experience as a stableman. He is also a volunteer in the British Testimonial army. All of these experiences would make him very attractive as a potential Canadian immigrant. Most of this information is found on the document below.
As noted in the bottom right hand corner, the family lives at number 2 Brackenbury Road in Fulwood , Preston, Lancashire. But Robert will not be there much longer. Preston Lancashire is not far from the West Coast of England. Ships sail to North America from nearby Liverpool on a regular basis.
Robert has seen these ships sail for Canada himself. He has met people who have taken that voyage. And in April of 1911 Robert has determined he will make that trip too.
In April 1911 Robert boards the Steam Ship Southwark of the Allan Line bound for Montreal Canada. The Allan Line will receive a small commission – called the British Bonus – for having encouraged Robert to head to Canada. Robert has bought a third class ticket and when he arrives in Montreal on May 4th he has all of $4 in his pocket. A Canadian Government Employment Agency has found him a job on a farm just outside of Woodstock Ontario. Robert boards the train to Toronto and then on to Woodstock Ontario – not far from London Ontario. When he arrives in Woodstock the farmer who had hired him is there to pick him up at the station. Robert works on the farm in Woodstock for a season or two before he heads to London Ontario.