Genealogy Chat

Hi
My mum was adopted in 1944 , how do we go about finding out about her birth records . We only no that her birth name was Gwendlyn , and that her mother died some time after giving birth .

Wendy

Wendy

Does your mum have her original birth certificate?

That is the first thing you really need to start with, it will give some information to help you further along. It will have her birth name as well as the name of her mother (possibly her father too depending on the circumstances).

Your mother may want to apply for her adoption file at some point, the social services are the best people to approach for help with that. They have a team who deal with adoption and can offer advice and help.



Glen

I have nudged another thread up as well for you.

It's called "Adoption" and was posted by Janet.

Glen

Glen
I checked the other thread and found your post , it was very helpful . My mum only has her adoption certificate , so we have downloaded the application form for access to the birth records .
My mum only decided today that she wanted to know more about who she is .
Thank you for your help .
Wendy

Hi Wendy

Contact SS in the area that your mother was adopted they can start the ball rolling also.
Given that the adoption was during the war years do not be surprised if they tell you they were lost in a fire etc, ....... heard that one before haven't we Glen ;O) how are you ? not seen you around for a long time.

Hi Sheila, i'm fine thanks.


The old "lost in a bombing raid/fire" excuse.......absolutely guaranteed to be said somewhere along the line.

It still amazes me how my records were destoyed in a bombing raid................in 1966!!! And even more amazing how they were suddenly found again all in one piece.

Glen

Hi Glen,

I know must have had one hell of a filling system back in the old days, they never found mine, though the court records where there ;O)
Could have believed the old bomb raid stories as I was born In Liverpool down by the docks, but not if it was in 1960 so long after the war ended.
Maybe it was a fire or they where lost in transport after Nugents moved offices,or when they went on to a computerized system the list is endless ;O)
Funny how is this day and age they can trace you down for a speeding ticket and yet, they can lose all trace of your birth medical records and adoption file in one foul swoop isn't it.
Have you come to the end of your quest yet ?

I just have to find if there are any more half siblings between the last born (myself) and the next youngest, there is a twelve year gap to fill and knowing how my birth father went on i wouldn't be suprised to find another half dozen.

I'm not far short of twenty half siblings through both my birth parents to date so the final total could be well into the twenties.

Hi Sheila ,
Hi Glen ,

My mum's adoption certificate says the adoption was handled in Manchester , when I checked the Website it said the records are all in tact . I'm hoping that is the case and they have not been lost in a " fire or bombing raid " .


Wendy

Hi Wendy

That's nice to know, the stock answer about the bombing raid is a bit of a standing joke but nearly everyone is told their records are missing.

Best of luck to you and your mum with the search.

Glen

Interesting to read this string of replies. I too have been told that my father's adoption file has been lost. Even if the file has been lost the GRO still has a master register but access to this is denied you under the Adoption Act.

A private case is being brought to Court shortly to challenge rights to this information and the Descendants of Deceased Adopted Persons Group is trying to find out how many people are affected and would benefit from this ground breaking case. DAP believes that we have the right to know our biological heritage.

If you are the descendant of a deceased adopted person trying to get access to birth records and you have hit a brick wall, then we would like to hear from you.

Please send a brief message and I will get back to you.
Thanks

Hi , Glen, Sheila
Good news at last.
We have my mum's adoption file at last . Not to much info in it , but it does give us a name , age and address for her mother at the time of the birth/ adoption .
And they never once said lost in a fire or bombing raid .

Hi Wendy

Did you manage to get any other info from the file, did you find a death reg in the years following the adoption ?

Hi Sheila
There wasn't much in the actual file. There's the adoption paper's with my grandparents detail's (adoptive) and the birth mum's name ,age, address and occupation . She handed my mum over herself , she was 4 months old at the time . The birth mum was only 18 at the time of the adoption , and doesn't seem to have been married, there is no father listed on the copy of the birth certificate .
I have managed to locate the births, for my mum , and her birth mother and several possible siblings for the mother . I haven't come across any record of a death for her yet .

Hi ,
just an update .
With the little bit of information that we had from the adoption records , we were able to track a marriage and death for my mums bith mother . We have since been in touch with a distant cousin who has put is touch with my mums cousin David , who was able to pass on our details to my mum's half brother and sister . We have been in touch with patricia and are arranging to meet her and her husband .
Sadly my mums mum passed away a few years back , after she tried to find my mum , even going on cilla black's show to trace her .
Thanks for the adoption advice ,
Wendy .

Hi Wendy

I am so sorry that your Mother did not get a chance to meet up with her birth Mother, but hopefully now you are in touch with her birth family and they can help fill in the gaps of the missing years, and maybe provide some photos of your Grandmother :O)
It is nice for your Mother to know that her Birth Mother did try and trace her, just such a shame that a lot of information that is now accessable to you now, you could not access back then :O(
But I wish your Mother and her new foundf family, all the best for the Future :O)

Hi Wendy,
I have followed your story with interest and am so glad your mum has discovered her half siblings. It has given me hope as I was adopted in 1946 and am almost sure I have traced a half sister on genes reunited. I have tried to contact her but my messages seem unopened! Maybe one day!
Mary

Hi again ,
We went to see my mum's half sister at weekend , and she was able to fill us in on a lot of things .
It seems that Olive was forced into giving my mum up for adoption by her dad . He was in the army , during WW2 , and when he returned he told Olive that she had to get rid of my mum . From what we were told by my mums sister , Olive never forgot about my mum and talked about her quite often . We still don't no who the father is , as all Olive had mentioned was that he was an american soldier .
It was great looking threw all the old photos , my mum is the image of Olive . We all got on as if we'd known each other for years . Looking forward to seeing each other again .
Hi mary ,
It took us a while to get to this point , so please don't give up hope . Good luck .