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Giving Up a Dream

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My Great Grandad Jerry had a goal. He wanted to be a farmer on his own land. His grandfather, William Jerry and his wife Hannah, moved from Norfolk, England to Pickering, Ontario, Canada in the 1830s. They moved to a country where they could afford to purchase land rather than working as an agricultural labourer. Herbert Jerry (holding gun) with parents and 3 brothers   Grandad Jerry’s proper name was James Herbert Jerry, but everyone called him Herb. He grew up in a family that was very poor. They needed money so badly, that according to the story that my grandmother told me, when he turned 11 he was hired out to work on the farm of Mr. James Ballard. On his first day of work Mr. Ballard sent him home and told him not to return until his ripped and torn pants were replaced. The sight of Grandad in is ragged clothes had brought blushes to Mr. Ballard's daughters. The family was so desperate for money that his mother and sisters stayed up all night hand sewing him a new pair of pa...