Nov 03, 2011


Photo: Rhena Pollard’s relatives unveil her historic plaque at the Harlowe cemetery, l-r Alice Gillies, Sandra Chisholm, Laura Delyea and Laurie Gillies

It’s not often that a tiny rural village can claim a piece of history associated with one of the best known English writers of all time. That was the case in Harlowe on October 30 when relatives of Rhena Pollard, members of the Cloyne and District Historical Society, dignitaries and members of the community gathered for the unveiling of a historic plaque honoring Rhena Pollard.

Rhena Pollard, who was born in 1836 in rural England to poor farmers, emigrated to Canada in 1855 and died in Harlowe in 1899. She was one of 100 young, female, underprivileged English teens who became associated with world-renowned author Charles Dickens at Urania Cottage, a home for wayward young women that he set up with the financial assistance of his benefactor, Angela Coutts. It was due to Dickens that Rhena ended up in Canada. He held personal interviews with various young women, and chose the young and feisty Rhena as one of his charges.

President of the historical society, Carolyn McCulloch, who presided at the event, explained how Dickens, “a social reformer, and a champion of the urban underclass who was obsessed with prisons and criminals, considered social reform a one way street to the future with no looking back”. These women at Urania were to become “the case studies for his philosophy of practical benevolence.” Marg Axford, past president of the society spoke of Rhena's story, which has received much notoriety and was documented in a CBC special by Karen Wells in 2009.

Prior to emigrating to Canada, Rhena lived a life common to young females of the underclass who arrived in London from broken homes and who in order to survive were faced with two choices: prostitution or theft. Rhena, like the other female members of her family, chose the latter and was arrested in 1853 at the age of 17. She was sentenced to two months of hard labour at Petworth Prison. Rhena’s mother and her two sisters Charlotte and Jane were also charged with petty theft and were shipped of to Tasmania to serve 10-year sentences. Rhena was luckier and ended up at Urania, where Dickens kept close tabs on her progress. He apparently was so inspired by her fierce, indomitable spirit that he is thought to have penned one of his most memorable characters, Tattycoram from “Little Dorrit” after her.

Carolyn pointed out that Dickens was also a statistician and was “greatly convinced of the relationship between ignorance and crime”. Carolyn quoted statistics at the time of Rhena’s incarceration. Of the 20,000 girls who in 1847 appeared before the magistrate in London, 17,000 had no occupation and only 14 could read and write. Literacy was one of the main objectives at Urania. “Each girl was measured on a scale of one to ten every day for truthfulness, industry, temper, propriety of conduct, conversation, temperance order, punctuality, economy and cleanliness.” Part of their reward was financial and the money they earned during their stay was saved for their future endeavors. While many of the 100 guests at Urania either remained in England or emigrated to Australia, Rhena chose to emigrate to Canada. Why? No one knows but she first arrived in Buckingham, Quebec where she worked as a domestic and met and married Oris Cole. The two followed the timber trade west and ended up settling in Harlowe where they raised seven children and led a typical pioneering life. Like most interesting stories of historical significance, much remains a mystery and Rhena’s former life at Urania was kept secret.

Though Dickens kept a book of his interviews with his charges, to this day it has never been recovered. Another mystery? Why did Rhena choose Canada? “Likely because she was feisty and loved a challenge,” her great great grand daughter Laurie Gillies, of Toronto, said.

Four blood relatives of Rhena’s attended the event and were invited to unveil the plaque. Her great grand daughters, Laura Delyea of Harlowe, Sandra Chisholm from Terrace, British Columbia, along with Laurie Gillies did the unveiling while triple great grand daughter 11-year-old Alice, Laurie’s daughter was given the honor of reading the plaque aloud. Alice said she plans on doing a presentation to her class about the unveiling. Her mom Laurie said she was touched by Rhena’s story. “It was terrific to hear about such an audacious, feisty woman being part of my heritage.”

Laura Delyea of Harlowe said her only regret was to have never met Rhena. Sandra Chisholm was visibly moved by the ceremony. “I feel very honored and now I actually know where that part of my personality comes from.”

The plaque now will sit permanently at the entrance to the Harlowe cemetery and Mayor Bud Clayton said he hoped to have a sign erected in a more visible location so that visitors to the area can also have a chance to view this very special piece of local history. 

Support local
independant journalism by becoming a patron of the Frontenac News.