RootsChat.Com

General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Boongie Pam on Thursday 29 April 04 17:22 BST (UK)

Title: Census Relationship Que?
Post by: Boongie Pam on Thursday 29 April 04 17:22 BST (UK)
Hiya,

Can Anyone tell me what relationship a "nurse child" held in a household?  Here's an example from the LDS cd for 1881:-

Dwelling:   Old Mill Row
Census Place:   Over Staveley, Westmorland, England
Source:   FHL Film 1342256     PRO Ref RG11    Piece 5207    Folio 78    Page 8

William LOWTHER   M   68    M   Riswich,
Rel:   Head
Occ:   Woolen Weaver

Sarah LOWTHER   M   62    F   Thornthwaite
   Rel:   Wife

Thomas LOWTHER   U   19    M   Staveley
Rel:   Son
Occ:   Bobbin Turner

Annie I. CARTER       1    F   Ulverston
Rel:   Nurse Child

Thanks you,
Pam
 ;D
Title: Re:Census Relationship Que?
Post by: Sasha on Thursday 29 April 04 18:38 BST (UK)
Hi Pam,

This question was discussed on the rootsweb lincsgen site recently, and the general opinion was that the term referred to a foster child.

http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/ENG-LINCSGEN/2004-03/1078172190

Regards,
Sasha.
Title: Re:Census Relationship Que?
Post by: Boongie Pam on Thursday 29 April 04 19:21 BST (UK)
Cheers for that - very interesting.  It was the first time I had come across the term most of my research has been in the West of England and Scotland but I'm seeing it more in the East.

Cheers,
Pam
Title: Re:Census Relationship Que?
Post by: Janine on Saturday 01 May 04 17:43 BST (UK)
 ;)  I had come across that in one of my families too ... thanks for the info, very helpful!  Foster child does make sense.  Perhaps a more distant family member even, orphan of a relative.  
Title: Re:Census Relationship Que?
Post by: suey on Sunday 02 May 04 12:06 BST (UK)

I have an 8yr old boy described as a Nurse Child with one of my families - I wondered if he might just have been an illigitimate child of one of the daughters.. as the folk looking after him are both in their 60's.  
Perhaps I just have a suspicious mind  ::)
Title: Re:Census Relationship Que?
Post by: peterbennett on Sunday 02 May 04 12:18 BST (UK)
Hi
Here is my two pen'th.
   It was common at that time for orphan or pauper children that were looked after by the Poor law unions to 'offer' out children,they were provided with some free clothing and the 'odopters'were given a few shillings a week for there trouble. the chance of a few shilling was taken up by many a poor family
hope this helps

peterbennett