Before 1911

[PaulJC]

Hi All,
My wifes grandmother and her sister were adopted together. She was Margaret Corrigan born 1894 and her sister Mary Ellen born 1891. According to the 1911 census they were both born in Altrincham but were then living in Oldham.
I am looking for help in tracing them in the 1901 census but so far have had no luck with my searches.
Regards,
Paul

[rosie99]

Could you please tell us who they were living with in 1911 and give their ages and places of birth.

Rosie

[Milliepede]

Maybe their surname was changed - have you found their births?

[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

[cath151]

There is a Maggie Corrigan born Altrincham aged 6 with a John Corrigan widower, both lodgers in a household in Altrincham in 1901.
Familysearch has a baptism for a Margarita Corrigan 3 June 1894, St Vincent De Paul, Altrincham.
Parents Joannis Corrigan and Catherinae Connor.
RG13/3322  97/33
Cathy

[Milliepede]

For info this is the family in 1901

Timothy Geraghty head 37
Margaret wife 28
Frank son 6
Elizabeth Gibbons mother in law 47
Margaret McMarney sister 37

[Milliepede]

There's a death for a Catherine Corrigan in Altringham Dec 1895 age 25 which could have been their mother.

Marriage Dec 1890 Altringham
Catherine Connor
John Corrigan

which fits with the baptism Cathy found.

[cath151]

I wonder if this could be Mary Ellen in 1901
37 Chapel St., Altrincham

Bernard O Connor  head mar 60  Gen Lab    Ireland
Ellen       "             wife  mar  59                Altrincham
Nellie  Corigan      grand daughter  9           "

RG13/3322  99/37

Cathy

[PaulJC]

Thanks All,
Some of the data you have so quickly found is new to me and gives me some other avenues. I had seen Maggie living with her widowed father but was not sure because her sister was missing (but that's possible).
Paul