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Author Topic: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905  (Read 3569 times)

Offline dragonlady403

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Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
« 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 :(
Johnston - New Zealand; Scotland
Brookes - New Zealand; England
Morris- Liverpool Lancs, UK; New Zealand
Hatter - Wiltshire UK; Otago New Zealand
Ainslie & Strachan - Midlothian, Scotland; New Zealand
Paull -St Agnes, St Columb Minor Parish Cornwall; South Africa; New Zealand
Gould & Reece- Stroud, Gloucestershire UK; New Zealand
Oakly - Australia, NZ; UK
Downes -UK; Australia; NZ
Kinghorn - Jamaica; England; Scotland
Murphy - County Kerry, Ireland; NZ

Offline Lucy2

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Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
« Reply #1 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

Offline Lucy2

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Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 12 November 17 17:47 GMT (UK) »
... oops ... I see that link hasn't highlighted ... will post again.   ::)

Offline Lucy2

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Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 12 November 17 17:50 GMT (UK) »

Offline Lucy2

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Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
« Reply #4 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

Offline dragonlady403

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Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
« Reply #5 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
Johnston - New Zealand; Scotland
Brookes - New Zealand; England
Morris- Liverpool Lancs, UK; New Zealand
Hatter - Wiltshire UK; Otago New Zealand
Ainslie & Strachan - Midlothian, Scotland; New Zealand
Paull -St Agnes, St Columb Minor Parish Cornwall; South Africa; New Zealand
Gould & Reece- Stroud, Gloucestershire UK; New Zealand
Oakly - Australia, NZ; UK
Downes -UK; Australia; NZ
Kinghorn - Jamaica; England; Scotland
Murphy - County Kerry, Ireland; NZ

Offline dragonlady403

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Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
« Reply #6 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
Johnston - New Zealand; Scotland
Brookes - New Zealand; England
Morris- Liverpool Lancs, UK; New Zealand
Hatter - Wiltshire UK; Otago New Zealand
Ainslie & Strachan - Midlothian, Scotland; New Zealand
Paull -St Agnes, St Columb Minor Parish Cornwall; South Africa; New Zealand
Gould & Reece- Stroud, Gloucestershire UK; New Zealand
Oakly - Australia, NZ; UK
Downes -UK; Australia; NZ
Kinghorn - Jamaica; England; Scotland
Murphy - County Kerry, Ireland; NZ

Offline dragonlady403

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Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
« Reply #7 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.
Johnston - New Zealand; Scotland
Brookes - New Zealand; England
Morris- Liverpool Lancs, UK; New Zealand
Hatter - Wiltshire UK; Otago New Zealand
Ainslie & Strachan - Midlothian, Scotland; New Zealand
Paull -St Agnes, St Columb Minor Parish Cornwall; South Africa; New Zealand
Gould & Reece- Stroud, Gloucestershire UK; New Zealand
Oakly - Australia, NZ; UK
Downes -UK; Australia; NZ
Kinghorn - Jamaica; England; Scotland
Murphy - County Kerry, Ireland; NZ

Offline crisane

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Re: Children that became wards of the state, or were adopted around 1905
« Reply #8 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/
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