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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: dragonlady403 on Sunday 12 November 17 15:44 GMT (UK)

Title: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: dragonlady403 on Sunday 12 November 17 15:44 GMT (UK)

It turns out our family has a "new" branch :o 

My Gr Grandmother appears to have had a son in 1905 that the family knew nothing about.  The child was placed into a home for children of unwed mothers in the Christchurch area... he was still there in 1908. 

I am wondering if there is a way to track down that likely institution and its records/a list of children's homes at the time/or somehow link into adoption records for that period? 

Or perhaps register somewhere as a "person of interest" for that individual?

Thanks - AS ALWAYS:)  ;D ;D ;D

P.S.  Just because this situation isn't weird enough on its own... the child and his parents were the subjects of a couple of court cases in 1908 (Christchurch) because of the mother's inability to pay the costs required for his upkeep.  Lots of chatter about morals and the lack thereof in the articles :(

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: Lucy2 on Sunday 12 November 17 17:46 GMT (UK)

Hi

This may be of help to start with ?

://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/family-history/hospitals-orphanages-charities/#Orphanages

   ~   Lu

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: Lucy2 on Sunday 12 November 17 17:47 GMT (UK)

... oops ... I see that link hasn't highlighted ... will post again.   ::)

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: Lucy2 on Sunday 12 November 17 17:50 GMT (UK)

https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/family-history/hospitals-orphanages-charities/

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: Lucy2 on Sunday 12 November 17 17:54 GMT (UK)

Hi

*  Do you have the name of the child (and the name of his father also)  ?

*  Was the child's birth registered ?

   ~  Lu

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: dragonlady403 on Sunday 12 November 17 19:55 GMT (UK)

Hi, thanks, Lu!   

Yes, the child's birth was registered, but the father was not.  The child was Lionel Augustus Mercer, B 1905.  Mother listed as Blanche Mercer.   I have a hunch they might have been Methodists (her mother was Scottish and was Methodist) - if that would be of any help?

Also, there was a lawyer by the name of Leatham who assisted Blanche with her legal issues, I wondered if there might be court records from the case in 1908 which was discussed in this issue of the paper:
MISGUIDED BLANCHE MERCER.NZ Truth , Issue 236, 1 January 1910, Page 6

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: dragonlady403 on Sunday 12 November 17 19:57 GMT (UK)

Blanche was subsequently ordered to pay 5s/week for the upkeep of Lionel in a public institution as per this newspaper articled

MAGISTERIAL.Star , Issue 9728, 21 December 1909, Page 2

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: dragonlady403 on Sunday 12 November 17 19:58 GMT (UK)

I think the boy must have been adopted because I can't find any records for him after the birth registration.

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: crisane on Sunday 12 November 17 20:12 GMT (UK)

This may help with which institution Lionel was placed in.
https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/family-history/hospitals-orphanages-charities/

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: Lucy2 on Sunday 12 November 17 23:22 GMT (UK)

crisane ...  that's the same link I posted earlier.   ;)

    ~  Lu

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: minniehaha on Tuesday 14 November 17 03:44 GMT (UK)

These two New Brighton school snippets may be about the Lionel Mercer you are looking for.........

1911

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19111223.2.75?query=lionel%20mercer

1919

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SUNCH19191219.2.63?query=lionel%20mercer


Minniehaha.

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: minniehaha on Tuesday 14 November 17 03:51 GMT (UK)

This may be his headstone?

https://billiongraves.com/grave/Lionel-Augustus-Mercer/8130995


Minniehaha.

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: dragonlady403 on Tuesday 14 November 17 07:06 GMT (UK)

 :o :o :o :o :o :o

How did you manage that so quickly??? I thought he may have moved to Aussie because he disappeared in NZ. 

I also wondered if he had been adopted and had a name change... this headstone seems to confirm that wasn't so because it's listed under his birth name.  I wonder if he spent his entire life in orphanages:(  I will check into the school you posted links to which should at least give me a more specific geographical location for him at that time.

Also, the headstone mentions he is a "friend of" the other men listed. No mention of relatives. 

Wonderful Minniehaha.  THANKS so much:)

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: minniehaha on Tuesday 14 November 17 07:43 GMT (UK)

Hi Dragonlady,

I felt this find could be a good step forward in your research. I didn't manage to find anything about him in the Australian newspapers.

Maybe you could contact the cemetery to see if the records reveal anything?

https://www.hume.vic.gov.au/About_Us_Contact_Details/Your_Council/Contact_Us

Minniehaha.

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: dragonlady403 on Tuesday 14 November 17 09:44 GMT (UK)

Re: contacting cemetery... good idea, will do. 

I couldn't find anything about his emigrating to Australia from NZ either, perhaps it was later in life so the records won't be available.  He didn't die until 1994 so might not have gone abroad until the 70's - when he retired for example.

But I also couldn't find any census records for him in NZ - I am exploring that as well. 

I told my mother she had "an uncle" today.  Shocked I tells ya!  Genealogy is SO interesting ;)

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: minniehaha on Tuesday 14 November 17 20:30 GMT (UK)

Hi,

Sorry, but in the main we don't retain census papers in New Zealand. Just extract information for statistical purposes then destroy.  :(

The electoral rolls however may yield something perhaps?


Minniehaha.

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: minniehaha on Tuesday 14 November 17 21:22 GMT (UK)

The probated will of Lionel Augustus MERCER..........

https://www.prov.vic.gov.au/search_journey/select?q=series_id:(28%207591%207592%207933%2017379)%20AND%20family_name:(mercer)%20AND%20given_name:(lionel)&start_date=1994&end_date=1994&form_origin=WILL_SEARCH


Minniehaha.

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: minniehaha on Wednesday 15 November 17 08:38 GMT (UK)

I believe this may have been the solicitor who acted for Blanche.....

Struck off in 1915……

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/STEP19150323.2.39?query=robert%20thomas%20leatham

But perhaps later reinstated? as cemetery records show "retired solicitor"......

Surname:   LEATHAM
First name(s):   ROBERT THOMAS
Date of death:   Monday, 20 January 1941
Cemetery:   Sydenham
Date of burial:   Monday, 20 January 1941
Block number:   9B
Plot number:   61
Age:   74 years
Address:   
Occupation:   RET. SOLICITOR
Place of birth:   
Years in New Zealand:   74

You could contact the New Zealand Law Society in an endeavour to try and find out who took over his clients.......

https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/about-nzls/contact-us


Minniehaha.

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: dragonlady403 on Wednesday 15 November 17 12:53 GMT (UK)

Hi Minniehaha - yes that jives with my records of a Mr Leatham serving as her legal advisor.  I have contacted the Law Society to see if they can assist with any information about the firm or, even where the files would have ended up.  Thanks for that link!

Strangely, Lionel isn't showing up on electoral rolls in either NZ or Australia (where he died).  Also, I have also been unable to find the travel docs for him moving from NZ to Australia - I wonder if it's because all these the records are too recent? I'll keep picking away at it.

Re the probate- I posted to the Australian Rootschat Board and someone has advised that there wasn't an actual will, and suggested I order an email copy of the Probate docs, which I will do shortly.

I also wrote to the cemetery yesterday so hopefully, I will receive something back in a few days.

AS ALWAYS... thanks very much for your help:) :) :)
Regards, Carol

p.s. I may have found his emigration record to Australia in 1927.  Seems likely, but needs to be confirmed.

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: minniehaha on Wednesday 15 November 17 17:59 GMT (UK)

Hi Carol,

As you now have a few points of contact to work on, hopefully some useful information will come to light. You have his date of death. Maybe you could try and obtain the newspaper death notice (if there was one) through Rootschat Australia? If this cannot be provided by the cemetery people....

Good luck,

Minniehaha.  :)

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: dragonlady403 on Wednesday 15 November 17 18:54 GMT (UK)

I am thrilled really because I'm so much further than I was just a couple of days ago.  I've written to two or three agencies and I'm sure something will turn up --- eventually!

Thanks again for all the help:)
Regards, Carol

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: Jang on Thursday 16 November 17 08:03 GMT (UK)

Not sure if this helps or not - there is another Mercer buried at Sunbury:

Eunice Patricia Mercer, d. 14 Oct 1996, aged 69 years. Loved wife of John, devoted mother of ....

and her husband:
Death notice Herald Sun 4 Oct 2017
MERCER. John Walter. 17.2.1931 1.10.2017 Devoted husband of Eunice (dec. ). Loving step-father of .... Adored Grandad of ..... and dearly loved brother of ..... Always in our Hearts. Funeral 6 Oct 2017 Tobin Bros Sunbury, private cremation

Title: Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
Post by: dragonlady403 on Thursday 16 November 17 18:54 GMT (UK)

Hi Jang, I'm not sure if it's part of the same family because I'm under the impression he never married.  But I will certainly check it out. 

Thanks:)
Carol