Advice sought on Muller orphanages

[GMCT_archivist]

Thanks, Alan, happy to give my name but that would then identify me and that's probably not allowed under the rules of the website!

[Aks]

Hi "GMCT_archivist",

Gosh, I'd better read the rules one of these days!

I was just wondering if, based on your experience, you might be able to shed some light on another issue. My great grandmother, Martha Susanna Froude, was in the Muller orphanage from  31st December 1857 and stayed there until June 7th 1864. In 1871, she was in the Devon House of Mercy at Bovey Tracey and I wonder if this might be because she had a child at that time. I read somewhere that in such cases the children were often "sent" to nearby orphanages. Do you have any idea what happened in such cases and how could one find out which orphanage the Devon House of Mercy would send the children to?

Many thanks,

Alan

[GMCT_archivist]

Thank you very much for offering to look in the Muller archives. Annie Alberta (nee Heath) was born abt 4 Dec 1871, Marylebone, Middlesex. She married 22 Nov 1890 at Swanscombe, Kent, to William James Moody, a papermaker. He was born 01 sept 1867 in Kentish town, Middlesex, it seems that was also Greenwich. William died 30 Oct 1903 at 23 Stonebridge Rd, Strood, Kent, of renal colic. His surname was spelled Moodey on his death certificate. Annie Moody (Moodey) had at that time five children and was likely expecting. Their children were Frederick William Albert Moody b. 1891, Kent, William James 1893, Kent, Emily Alberta Moody 1894, Kent, Katie Matilda Moody 1896 - died of scarlet fever in 1904 at the same address in Strood, Kent, Hilda Louisa Moody 1902, Kent, and Ivy Florence Moody, 1904, Kent. The information I had was that Emily, Hilda and Ivy were all placed at Muller's in 1906 but Ivy I think a few months later. Annie Alberta Moodey wrote as Mrs. A. Moodey to Barnardo's inquiring about my grandfather (he knew her as a child) unfortunately the letter was not forwarded and he never knew, as Barnardo's did not have his address by then (abt 1925) thus he lost his chance of contact with family. Annie Moody (Moodey) was living at Portman House, Lisson Grove, Marylebone at the time of the letter, and when she died 15 May 1932 she lived at Portman House, Harrow Street, Marylebone. She died of cancer. If you prefer to have this information given elsewhere please let me know. Jan.

Hi Jan

Records show that Emily came to us on 30 January 1906 and was admitted to No 3 House.  I had a flick through the documentation but was unable to determine why the other girls did not come in at the same time.  Hilda came in on 13 June 1907 and Ivy on 31 October 1907 - both were admitted to No 5 House.  I did see a letter from the applicant expressing a hope that the sickness had passed.  Unfortunately, we did not have copying facilities in those days so I don't know what information was sent out.  I am guessing that, because of the age differences, Hilda and Ivy would have gone to a different house from Emily and that there was an outbreak of disease that prevented the girls from being admitted to No 5 - by which time Ivy had been taken to the workhouse.  There are quite a few documents relating to the admission of the three girls which may give further insight.

Regards

[GMCT_archivist]

Hi "GMCT_archivist",

Gosh, I'd better read the rules one of these days!

I was just wondering if, based on your experience, you might be able to shed some light on another issue. My great grandmother, Martha Susanna Froude, was in the Muller orphanage from  31st December 1857 and stayed there until June 7th 1864. In 1871, she was in the Devon House of Mercy at Bovey Tracey and I wonder if this might be because she had a child at that time. I read somewhere that in such cases the children were often "sent" to nearby orphanages. Do you have any idea what happened in such cases and how could one find out which orphanage the Devon House of Mercy would send the children to?

Many thanks,

Alan

Hi Alan

As you say, Martha left on on 7 June 1864 - and was "given up to her sister's husband and his wife, Captin and Mrs George Devereux, 3 Brighton terrace, Park Road, Liverpool, who declared themselves to be able henceforth to provide for her, and expressed their desire to do so."

Unfortunately, we have no record of her after that.  It might be worth contacting info [at] boveytracey.gov.uk to see if they can shed any light on the matter. 

Regards

[Arranroots]

Thanks, Alan, happy to give my name but that would then identify me and that's probably not allowed under the rules of the website!

There's no Rootschat rule that would prevent you identifying yourself, should you so desire. As long as you're offering free advice and assistance (as you very obviously are - thank you) and not selling anything, that's fine. 

We do ask that you don't post email addresses though. Rootschat can be identified as the source of spam, which could make us unpopular, so private emails should be sent via the Personal Message system and "public" ones should be provided by a link, ideally or at least no "in plain'.

Another issue that might come up concerning Muller Orphanages is the question of living people and our rule is that anyone who might still be alive should not have their details posted here.

Thank you very much for the trouble you've been going to, and the assistance you've given so far.

Kind regards, Arranroots 

[heathgirl]

Thank you for what you have been able to provide regarding Annie Moodey. I still hope to find her in the census for 1911 when I have the time. Jan

[GMCT_archivist]

Thanks, Arranroots.  I certainly wouldn't put a personal email address up, but felt it safe to put the boveytracey address up.  If anyone wants to email me directly, please use ski [at] mullers dot org.

Also I wouldn't put up anything relating to living people (indeed, if an "old boy" or "old girl" asks to see their records, and we know their siblings are still alive, we remove documents relating solely to that sibling first.  We take our responsibilities under the DPA seriously.

Regards

Alan

[radstockjeff]

I wonder if GMCT_archivist could help in my query. It is not related to children, but staff members.

My great uncle Walter Wood was I believe employed at Ashley Down for some years. Not sure in what capacity or for how long. It was probably late 1930s onward. His wife was Eva(ngeline). They had a son Ralph, a musician in the Marines who was killed in action in 1942 in HMS Arethusa.  His mother could never accept the fact and spent the remainder of her life looking for information about him.

Any info appreciated.

Thanks

radstockjeff

[GMCT_archivist]

I'm very sorry, Jeff, but, to our intense frustration, we have no records of members of staff.  We have no idea what happened to the records.  Also missing are the education records of the orphans.