20 Laurel Road, Liverpool - accommodation address for adoptions?

[johneowens]

The birth place on the 1917 birth certificate for my great aunt and uncle's child, James Roye McConville, is given as 20 Laurel Road, Liverpool, presumably where the mother gave birth, whereas the address given for the father (who was serving in the British Army) is different.

Out of curiousity, I googled 20 Laurel Road, Liverpool and found a message on Ancestry requesting information on a "Catherine Sharp 20 Laurel road L7 0LW who was the mother of Leslie George Sharp DOB 15/06/1916 west Derby and give him up for adoption in the same year." See https://www.ancestry.co.uk/boards/topics.adoption.uk.england.england/870/mb.ashx 

I do not know of any familial connection with the Sharps but this message prompted me to think that the 20 Laurel Road, Liverpool address (located near the Edge Hill Hospital at No. 17) might have been an informal adoption agency, and therefore that James Roye McConville might also be adopted. Both the parents went on to pursue their respective careers without James Roye.

I know adoption is a very tricky area since there is often very little documentation. Until we have the 1921 Census, can anyone please offer any guidance on the plausibility of James Roye being adopted?

In anticipation, many thanks

Best wishes

John

[hanes teulu]

The following advert appeared in the Leeds Mercury 4 or 5 times during November and December 1913 -

"Lady would like to ADOPT BABY; premium required. Price, 20 Laurel Road, Liverpool E"

[KGarrad]

Legal, formal, adoption didn't happen until 1927.

Any adoption before that would most probably be an informal adoption sometimes involving a local church.
As such, you are almost certainly not going to find any paperwork.

[cath151]

Also sad story from the from papers
Manchester Evening news 11 April 1915
Manslaughter verdict against Warrington woman
" of four children which Mrs Goodwin had adopted from Nurse Kate Maria Pearce of 20 Laurel Road, Fairfield, Liverpool, three had died"
The nurse had given Mrs Goodwin sums of £5, £9 and £10 to adopt the children;
A later report about the same case
"Nurse Kate Maria Pearce, widow, a certified midwife" apparently one or more of the children were illegitimate and born at her house.

So obviously adoptions happening from that address but equally if Nurse Pearce was a qualified midwife perhaps she catered for women giving birth in general.

Cathy

[johneowens]

Many thanks, cath151, hanes teulu and KGarrad, for this very interesting research. Seems my suspicions were correct. Interesting to add that my gt aunt was a nurse.

Thanks to all.

Best

John

[purlin]

The property 20 Laurel Rd. is still there you may wish to have a look on Street View, Google maps

[california dreamin]

Perhaps it might be worth checking the Electoral register for that address or equally any Trade Directory (i.e. perhaps address was a small mother & baby nursing home - and the services sometimes went beyond...)

CD

[johneowens]

Good thinking, CD. Will do.

Will also check streetview on Google earth. Thanks, Purlin.

Best

John

[Blue70]

No Electoral Registers are available for 1916 and 1917.


Blue