Sir Josiah Masons Orphanage

[crab2]

Hi

Would anyone know if there are any records for Sir Josiah Mason's Orphanagem, Erdington Near Birmingham
thanks

Linda

[KGarrad]

A reply on another forum says that nearly all the records were destroyed.

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/ENG-WARKS-BIRMINGHAM/2005-06/1119952191

But a register of names is held by the Old Masonians Trust.
http://sjmo.webs.com/

[crab2]

Thank you very much, the records I was looking for are for 1881 so no hope of finding any from that era

[Bojalu]

Records held by Birmingham Archives for
 St Josiah Mason Orphanage 1856 -1990  ( MS 1609)
Register Index, correspondence, photographs, legal records, plans, printed material, administrative & financial records.

[crab2]

Awesome, thank you so much, will have a look

[sleepybarb]

Hi Linda try the Birmingham Family History forum,there's quite a lot of photo's there and someone may be able to help you.
                                       Barb

[brummie nick]

Hi Linda, can't help with your inquiry but I thought you might like to see this story in the local paper.
Nick.
http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2012/05/31/guerilla-crocheters-yarn-bomb-erdington-statue-for-the-jubilee-97319-31081164/

[crab2]

Thanks Barb, will certainly go there

Nick thanks love it, he certainly looked part of the festivities

[Roobarb]

This seems to be a very old thread that I'm resurrecting! It does seem a logical place to ask some questions though, rather than starting a new thread.

I've found an entry in the 1881 census for the orphanage which seems to be for my ancestor Annie Elizabeth Newsam, age 6. What's confusing is why she was in an orphanage in Erdington. She was born in Northallerton (or Welbury which is nearby), her father died in September 1876 when the family lived in Yorkshire, he named his sister Elizabeth as executor and guardian of his children although his wife Mary was still alive at that time. Elizabeth herself died in 1879 at home in Yorkshire but I have been unable to find Mary's death.

I've read about the orphanage and it seems they were very strict about ensuring that the children were actually orphans. Does anyone please know what the residential limitations were for the orphanage? Annie wasn't living in Yorkshire of course  (although her brothers aged 7 and 9 were living in Yorkshire with their aunt and uncle) but I wondered what area it covered.

Annie was working in Staffordshire in 1891 but later returned to the North. I'm puzzled about the circumstances leading to her being in that particular orphanage. Poor little orphan Annie.