Great Scott!

Emigrating from Scotland, the Smith family grew and prospered in Canada

- Delphine Lister

In 1910, Alexander Smith wrote to his brother George in northern Scotland: “Come to Australia!” Since there didn’t seem to be much future working with the horses on the estate of his current employer, my grandparents George and Alice Smith decided to emigrate. George contracted with a farmer in Baltimore, Ont., to work on his farm, intending to save money and then make his way to Australia. So, George, a pregnant Alice and their infant daughter Alice (my mother) sailed to Canada and arrived at the farm.

The farmer indicated that their living accommodations would be in the loft of the barn and that Alice would be expected to work in the house for the farmer’s wife. “No!” exclaimed George, “That loft is not safe for our young child. My wife was not supposed to work with yours. You have broken our agreement and I will not work for you.”