Earl Grey Orphans
I am the clerk of the Dungannon union and have been so since the formation of the union nearly ten years ago. I recollect a number of young females being selected for immigration to Australia last year. One of the persons named in list of the girls selected, and approve of, died shortly after…and another girl was here or refused to go. As I heard two other girls were sent in the place to make up the number on the list selected and approved, that is 16. I heard that they were substituted and sent in the name of parties…I believe I was aware of it at the time. I believe it was the board of guardians ordered the substitution. I was not aware at the time that they would have to answer at Belfast or any other place in the names of the girls in whose place they were substituted but I was aware that they left this house under the names of the others. The union books show the parties that actually went.