Mothers Biological History

[KennyAB]

My DNA testing is showing a strong Irish (60%) ancestry. The only way this could occur is through my mother and her parents. Unfortunately my late mother (born 1924 and emigrated to New Zealand in 1926) didn't know her biological parents. The 'adopted' parents who brought her out from the UK would never tell her the details. Being pre 1927 there are thus no adoption records and I am trying to determine if there are any other potential avenues to trace my heritage. 

[Ruskie]

Welcome to rootschat Kenny.

Do you know your mother's given name at birth? If born in England or Wales have you tried to find her here, if only to eliminate:

Ihttp://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl
 
Do you know how old she was when she was adopted?

Do you know where she was born? if not, do you know where the family lived before they emigrated to NZ?

Presumably you know the names of the family who adopted her?

Answers to these questions may narrow down the search. I believe that the Salvation Army may be able to assist:
http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/reuniting-families

Others with more knowledge and experience will be able to offer you more suggestions.

Good luck.

[Rosinish]

Hi Kenny,

Just to add to Ruskie's question, if not born E or W was she born Scotland?

A lot of Irish girls were sent away if they were pregnant (not nice at all) i.e. I'm presuming her to have been illegitimate although I may be wrong?

Annie

[KennyAB]

Hi Ruskie
Unfortunately, this detail was refused to be disclosed by my mother's 'adopted' parents. I have the history of them but they are not necessarily even related. I also know the 'adopted' parents did legally adopt another 'daughter' and her history was disclosed as she was an extended family member. So, as it was in those days, my mother could have come from anywhere without having to go through any documentation process although with my DNA results she and both parents must have been of Irish decent. My mother tried to trace her ancestry (it came as a result of applying for a passport which required a birth certificate), but thought it would be a dead end as many of the recorda at Somerset House were destroyed in the 2nd world war.
Due to timing am reasonably sure she would have been born in the UK

[Rosinish]

I forgot to mention, do you know which town as well as County she was born?

What was her forename?

It may be possible to find her without providing her surname on your search as it can be narrowed down if she didn't have a highly common forename & the adoptive parents may have kept her forename?

Did she have a middle name which could identify her birth surname?

Annie

Added, Crossed post

[Rosinish]

Just curious, were the adoptive parents Irish too?

Could your mother have actually been an illegitimate daughter of either her mother or moreso her father?

Was the other daughter adopted prior to your mother or after?

Just trying to help!

How many yrs were between them?

Annie

[KennyAB]

Hi all
The details I have are my mother's first and middle name and her birth date; the names, birth dates, marriage details etc of the 'parents'; and the shipping details when they came to New Zealand. Presumably I can find out from the 1921 census etc where the 'parents' were residing at that stage and make some guesses from there or look at local records that might give some further clues. 

[Ruskie]

No 1921 census until 2022 I'm afraid.

[Ruskie]

Have you checked on freebmd that I gave a link to for any females born in the quarter corresponding to your mothers date of birth?

You might need to try a few variations as some of her original details may have stayed the same for example her first and middle names as well as her date of birth. You could search without a surname just using first and middle names and perhaps the county where the family lived. They may have adopted her from elsewhere, but you have to start somewhere I suppose.  I would probably also be initially looking for the baby having the same surname as the mother, as it was likely that she was illegitimate. Then broaden the search if you find nothing likely.

If you would be willing to share her name and other details from her birth certificate (presuming everyone named is deceased) I'm sure there will be plenty of helpers willing to lend a hand. If you don't (which is understandable) then try freebmd first.

As Annie says, she could have been born in Scotland ... or Ireland, England or Wales.