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William Cliffe was born 2nd February 1892 in Manchester Crumpsall workhouse. He the illigitimate son of Mary who was aged 22years. With no visible means of support Mary arranged for a childless couple Henry and Mary Jackman to be godparents. This couple had been married for 20 years without having children and were to take care of William almost from birth. Mary Cliffe cared for her child for less than a month. William was raised by the Jackmans and attended St Edmunds RC Church Miles Platting. Unfortunately Mary Jackman was to die aged 50 in 1900 and in the following year young eight year old William found himself in lodgings with his 'Father'and relatives of his deceased 'mother'. His father was unable to raise him and he was to inform William that he was really called Cliffe and he handed the bewildered child over to the equivalent of Doctor Barnardos, who cared for orphan children. He was transported later that year (1901) to Canada where he was to be passed between various homes but always returned to the Care home, that was until he became an assistant at a Catholic Priest's training school. He was to remain in Canada and went on to raise a family there but his childhood memories were tinged with sadness at being deserted so early in life.All his life he tried to trace his birth mother and the search was carried on by his family. It was discovered that Mary Cliffe had been a servant at Doctor Dixons surgery Chancery lane Manchester, did he attend the birth and was he known to the Jackman family. The locations were all in immediate proximity so it was probable. Mary Cliffe's father was John Cliffe who was a Blacksmith from Audlem Cheshire who first moved to Liverpool to find work in the shipyards and then to Manchester wherehe worked at the large steelworks on Ashton Old road near to where Dr Dixon practiced. Poor William never did meet any of his blood relatives but whilst in Canada he had stayed with a Carr family in Ontario. Carr was Mary Jackmans maiden name so it is probable they had kept in touch with poor William and made contact when they lived there.
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