Two Adopted Children 1917

[polkadot41]

Hello

I have just found a baptism record (8 March 1917) for a member of our family; Gladys Esther Rogerson Renfrey but on it it states the child is an 'adopted daughter' of George & Elizabeth (nee Priestman) it also has her birth as 15 Oct 1901 making her about 16 years old.

Also below, on the same day is a baptism for Rose Elizabeth, born 1 Dec 1902 adopted daughter of Southern Alderson Priestman (Elizabeth's brother) & his wife Esther (nee Rogerson).

I have found Southern lodging with George & Elizabeth in 1901c and he is married to Esther in 1911c but I can find no trace of the girls in either census or Esther Rogerson before her marriage.

Can anybody help me or advise me on how tracing adoption records work?

Many thanks
Anita

[avm228]

Hi Anita

Assuming you are talking about England & Wales, adoption as we know it (the legal process) was introduced by a 1926 Act of Parliament which came into force in 1927.

Before that it was an informal process and very often no records exist at all.  In some cases there may be records from a workhouse or religious institution or intermediary showing the placing of a child, but they are rare.  Very often children were placed with relatives or others known to the family.

If you can find births for the children it can help you to work out whether it is likely to be a completely informal "adoption" (e.g. within extended family) or whether there may be a trail to follow.  Finding the birth will generally only be possible if the child has retained the birth name to a greater or lesser extent.

[MargP]

Hi Carroll

There were no official adoption records until the late 1920's, it was usually done between the families or the church.

Margp 

[avm228]

Given that Gladys had the names "Esther Rogerson" it's possible she was related to Southern's wife Esther, formerly Rogerson, and may even have been an illegitimate daughter of hers or a child of a previous marriage. Do you know for sure that Rogerson was Esther's maiden name - might it have been a previous married name?

Alternatively the names may have been given at baptism in honour of Esther if she was a Godmother.

[avm228]

I see that the marriage of "Suthern Alderson" and Esther Rogerson took place Sep qtr 1902 Durham, so before Rose's birth if her birthdate was correct on the baptism.

[avm228]

Anita, please could you give us transcribed details of what you've found in 1911?

[heywood]

1891 4185/19/33
Esther Rogerson 10 yrs born Sheriff Hill daughter of John.

[avm228]

1891 4185/19/33
Esther Rogerson 10 yrs born Sheriff Hill daughter of John.

Ah - OK, so she is the Esther Rogerson b Sep qtr 1880 Gateshead, presumably.

[heywood]

1901 4749/155/64

Transcribed as Bogerson

She is a servant with a Briggs family, in Gateshead