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Page 1 of 2 The immigration of 1847 was three times as high as the previous year and plagued with problems. Thousands of Irish were leaving their homes in search of a better life. Many were starving as the potato famine reached its high water mark. From the time they boarded the ships for Canada deaths began to occur. By the time they arrived, thousands had lost their lives and thousands more died at the quarantine station at Grosse Isle. The following information is about some of the widows and orphans who arrived in Toronto. An Asylum was opened in September of 1847 to house those who were left destitute. The Asylum only operated until May 30, 1848 but left behind this report containing the names of 197 of the people who had resided there. This information is extracted from the document, Report of the Managing Committee of the Widows and Orphans' Asylum, for the Care and Maintenance of the Destitute Widows and Orphans of the Emigrants of 1847, published in Toronto in 1848. Rules for Daily Occupation, &c.| Five o'clock, A.M. | Bell to ring for rising. | | Five to seven, A.M. | 1st Inmates to wash and dress.
2nd. Beds to be put in order.
3rd. Rooms to be cleaned. | | Seven to eight, A.M. | 1st. Roll to be called.
2nd. Prayers to be read.
3rd. Breakfast. | | Eight to ten, A.M. | Recreation or work for boys and girls. | | Ten, A.M., to half-past twelve, P.M. | School and work. | | Half-past twelve to two, P.M. | Dinner, recreation and work. | | Two to four, P.M. | School and work. | | Four to six, P.M. | Recreation or work. | | Six, P.M. | Supper | | Seven to eight, P.M. | 1st. Roll to be called.
2nd. Prayers to be read.
3rd. Prepare for bed. | | Half-past eight o'clock, P.M. | Lights to be extinguished. | | From 1st of November to 1st of May | Rising hour, six o'clock; breakfast, eight to nine; supper five. Lights to be extinguished at half-past seven o'clock, P.M. | | Visitors to be admitted between four and six o'clock. |
Rules of ConductTo be fairly written and hung up in the Rooms. 1st.-Any inmate who shall neglect to observe any of the rules of the institution applicable to him or her;
Or who shall make any noise when silence is ordered;
Or use obscene or profane language;
Or by word or deed insult or revile any other inmate of the Asylum;
Or who shall not duly cleanse his or her person;
Or neglect or refuse to work;
Or pretend sickness;
Or who shall wilfully waste or spoil any provisions, or stock, or tools, or materials for work;
Or wilfully damage any property whatsoever belonging to the institution;
Or disobey any of the orders of the Master, or Matron, or School Mistress, in their respective spheres of duty; shall be deemed disorderly, and shall be put upon such diet as the Committee or the Visiting Members shall direct. 2nd.-Any inmate who shall, within seven days, repeat one of the offences, or commit more than one of the offences specified in the foregoing rule;
Or who shall by word or deed insult or revile the Master or Matron, or any officer of the Asylum;
Or who shall be guilty of any act of drunkenness or indecency, shall be deemed refractory, and shall be punished either by alteration in diet, dismissal from the Asylum, or such other mode as may be prescribed by order of the Committee or the Visiting Members. Scale of Diets in Use in the Asylum| | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | | Breakfast | Bread and Tea | Oatmeal Porridge and Milk | Oatmeal Porridge and Milk | Oatmeal Porridge and Milk | Oatmeal Porridge and Milk | Oatmeal Porridge and Milk | Oatmeal Porridge and Milk | | Dinner | Bread and Meat | Bread and Soup | Bread and Meat | Bread and Soup | Bread and Meat | Bread and Milk[sic] | Bread and Soup | | Supper | Bread and Tea | Bread and Tea | Bread and Tea | Bread and Tea | Bread and Tea | Bread and Tea | Bread and Tea |
Allowance for widows, and children above ten years:--
Bread, half a pound for each meal.
Meat, half a pound do.
Milk, half a pint do.
Meal, seven ounces for breakfast.
Soup, one quart for each meal.
Tea, one-eighth of an ounce for each meal.
Sugar, one ounce for each meal. Allowance for children under ten years and above two years:--
Bread, meat, soup, oatmeal and milk-half the above quantities.
Sugar and water with milk, instead of tea, for supper. Children under two years:--
Bread, half a pound,-- Day's allowance
Sweet Milk, one pint, - Day's allowance R. McCausland, Superintendent.
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