More on the Moody party

We told a story all the way back in 2011 about twelve lads who set sail from our orphans homes across to Northfield in Massachusetts under the guardianship of the well known preacher Dwight Lyman Moody. The recent digitisation of our orphan home books by Borthwick Archives, at the end of last year, has revealed more information about the younger children who entered our homes, including the individual circumstances of the Moody party. 

On Sunday 20th May 1883, Leonard Shaw announced the names of the twelve boys who have been specially chosen to go to America as young disciples of Mr. Moody. These were selected from those within the George Street Homes who 'showed capacity for missionary work'. Every one of the twelve selected for emigration were orphans or had parents who had deserted them.

The oldest of the boys selected was 14 year old Frank. Born in Liverpool, Frank entered the homes aged 10, and found himself at 44 Johnson Street. Here he lived for three years before he moved to the newly bought orphan homes on George Street in 1882. Frank’s mother had died when he was young and his father abandoned him, placing him on a train from Liverpool to Stockport. His only other relative, an older brother, did not have the means to support him, only earning 11/6 a week.

Austin – one of the twelve.

Edwin on the other hand, had lost both of his parents on admittance to 38 Johnson Street in December 1878. His older brother was 13 and lived with a ‘bad woman’ in Cross Street. On admission Edwin was ‘very ragged and neglected’. He was also said to be engaged at casinos every night. He was only 8 years of age. Edwin lived at No. 38 alongside another boy selected for Northfields, George. George was 6 on admission and was also an orphan. Prior to living at the orphan homes he spent a short amount of time with his only living relative, an aunt, in a ‘wretched place with bad surroundings’. He appears to have spent most of his time wandering the streets. It’s also recorded the pair spent some time in Crumpsall Workhouse.
 

The backgrounds of the other 9 boys sent to America are all similar in content. As this was in 1883, before the charity had begun compiling case files for all individuals admitted, the books provide the only insight into the lives of these children before they entered the homes. 

So many more stories for us to discover!