Adoption and Previous Life

[PaulJC]

Hi All,
My wife's Grandfather James Mills (born 1892) was adopted together with his brother John (born 1893). On the 1911 census they are living in Oldham with their adoptive father Timothy Geraghty and are said to have been born in Salford. The adoption must have taken place sometime between 1901 and 1911 as they are not with him on the 1901 census. A few questions:
- I cannot trace them anywhere in the 1901 records?
- How could I find out more about the adoption? By 1911, Mr Geraghty had also adopted a pair of sisters.
Thanks,
Paul

[stanmapstone]

The 1926 Adoption Act which came into effect 1st January 1927 was the first Act legalising adoptions. Prior to that children were just handed over with mainly a verbal agreement and, at best, a declaration setting out the child's change of identity was drawn up by a solicitor, but it was by no means a legally binding document. Adoption was viewed as an essentially private arrangement between the parties concerned. The term "adopted" generally included fostering and guardianship.

Stan

[PaulJC]

Thanks Stan,
I know its going to be difficult. My main hope is that someone better than I at searching the 1901 census can find them as the surname is too common to check via birth certificate applications.
Paul

[KGarrad]

LancashireBMD is showing:

1894 at Oldham Below Town

John Mills, Mother's maiden name: Mills


Just a possibility!

[rosie99]

Where does 1911 say they were born

[PaulJC]

Thanks,
As always with common names there are more than a few possibilities and this birth date is a little out and also does not fit with the Salford birthplace mentioned in the 1911 census (but that could be wrong).
Paul

[PaulJC]

1911 says Salford, Lancashire but I am not really sure this is correct. My main hope is to find the two brothers together somewhere on the 1901 census.
Paul

[GrannyM]

Have you got the marriage certificate for James?

[heywood]

There is a Jackson / Mills family living next door to the Geraghtys in 1901 but none of the right name  it may be worth having a look at them.