Margaret McCabe (Prestonpans)
In the second half of the nineteenth century there was growing concern about the number of orphaned children in Liverpool. In London Annie Macpherson from Campsie in Stirlingshire had established a programme to transport such children overseas where they might find greater opportunity. In 1872 her sister Louisa Birt came to Liverpool on invitation, and the following year established the Liverpool Sheltering Homes to rescue destitute children and train them for jobs in Canada. The exercise was controversial but clearly well intentioned, and an estimated 6000 orphaned children were sent to Canada in Birt’s lifetime.
GBE14 Louisa Birt – Liverpool Sheltering Homes
Anns an dàrna leth den naoidheamh linn deug, bha dragh a’ fàs mun àireamh de chloinn a bha nan dìlleachdain ann an Libhearpul. Ann an Lunnainn, bha Anna Nic a’ Phearsain à Camais ann an Siorrachd Shruighle air prògram a chur air bhonn, airson a leithid sin de chloinn a ghiùlain a-null thairis far am faodadh iad cothrom nas fheàrr fhaighinn. Ann an 1872, thàinig a piuthar Louisa Birt a Libhearpul an dèidh cuireadh, agus a’ bhliadhna às dèidh sin stèidhich i Dachaighean Fasgaidh Libhearpul airson clann gun nì a shàbhaladh agus an trèanadh airson obraichean ann an Canada. Bha an obair seo connspaideach ach bha e soilleir gun robh e le deagh rùn, agus chaidh 6000 dìlleachdan a chur a Chanada an am beatha Birt.