Orphans and Foundlings

[Norfolk Nan]

Just a quick general question - how would I go about checking if someone was raised in an orphanage?  Despite best efforts I can't find the earlier birth/baptism/parent records of someone and wondered if this might be why.

[louisa maud]

If they were raised in an orphanage one would assume  they were registered, particularly after 1875 but if they were a foundling they might be surnamed after the place where found, saw that myself in records, or a person or policeman who found them, I have seen baptisms showing a child was a foundling

I am sure someone with more knowledge than me might come up with a suggestion

Can you give details on here?

Louisa Maud

PS, IS HE THE PERSON YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE A POST ABOUT ?

[Norfolk Nan]

hi Louisa Maud, yes, but my mistake for adding too much detail when I just wanted the basic research information.

Thanks

[Norfolk Nan]

I have a possible candidate for John Lee being taken into the Westminster Union in 1876 because his mother had died in the workhouse.  I found this on Ancestry and the originals are held by LMA - will I need to go to LMA (online or in person) for more details or will Ancestry have everything there is?  I'm unfamiliar with these records and don't want to go looking for something in the wrong place or that won't exist.  Thank you.

[louisa maud]

There are a lot of workhouse records on Ancestry which you should be able to look at

Louisa Maud

[ThrelfallYorky]

Where is he on the 1881 census? Have you managed to find him there? Or, if he was old enough, have you found him in 1871? (Sorry, if you've probably already thought of that, but sometimes I miss the obvious through taking too close a study at one aspect of the problem)
I generally find Ancestry quite good for poor law etc. records, by the way.

[Norfolk Nan]

Hi ThrellfallYorky

Good thinking - I've looked for him with family so I'd better take a new look with a different set of ideas. 

However, the orphan (and my chap) was born 1864 which means in 1881 he would have been too old for the workhouse.  I understand that many workhouse boys go into the army which tallies with what little I know about my chap.  I've found one possible lodger in the right area, and at least one possible lad in the army.  I'm still going round in circles. 

[ThrelfallYorky]

1871 census?