Thread: information of legal documents

Hello,

I'm trying to find out if there are any legal documents which I can view regarding my grandads adoption between 1987-1901-I no the name of the family who adopted him I just wanted to see a copy of the actual adoption.

Also, are there any records I can view which would say why 2 children are in a workhouse/union without any parents-what was the reason them being in there.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Wendymac

Hi Wendymac,

Copied from our genealogy guide on Ancestry Aid home page,

There was no official system of Adoption before 1927. It was an informal affair and although some evidence may be found in Poor Law records, material may be hard to locate and confirm unless information is given on probate records. Often the children were placed into families that needed extra labour and had more financial resources to care for them. The child usually retained his/her original surname but not always.
Adoption has only been legally recognized since 1927. At first it was seen as a way of providing security to illegitimate babies and war orphans. An adoption order severs the parental responsibilities and rights of the birth parents and hands them permanently over to new parents. Many of the children adopted would have spent time either with foster parents or in the care of a Children’s home. Charities such as Dr. Barnardos arranged many adoptions and will search their records for a fee.

Credit due to Starlight the original author.

Originally Posted by The Lady Marion

I can tell you that my Gt Gt Aunt Louisa was aged 5 years at the time of my Gt Gt Grandmothers death and stayed in the Woolwich Infirmary with her Mother until she died in 1880. The National Archives sent me information on what became of my Gt Gt Aunt Louisa so might be worth thinking about them in regards to the 2 children in the Workhouse. The National Archives also sent me info on my Gt Gt Uncle David the brother of Louisa and what became of him..Without their help I would have been none the wiser.

Marion

Hi Marion,

Thanks for your info thats really interesting-how did you go about contacting them for the information and what did you ask for. Do they charge a lot?
I might give it a try.

Thankyou to Big Don and yourself for the help.

Originally Posted by Elsabels

This site will assist you

The Workhouse - www.workhouses.org.uk

Workhouses

TNA will give you a quote for the relevant info, I have just received some information that cost me £5....a trip to there offices would cost me a lot more!

Thanks Elsabels,

I'll write or email them this wk end see if I can get anything back-hopefully good news.

I'm off to bed now -up early in the morning for work.
Night all

Hi Wendymac,

If you live in the same County as your gg grandmother, you can also look up the information in the parish chest at the records office nearest to there. It might pay you to phone first to check they have them as some are kept at main libraries.