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Hi Sue,
Technically I believe that the grandparents should have formally/legally adopted the grandaughter but whether they did or not, who knows?
My inclination is to think that as they brought her up "Pretenting" to be her natural parents they probably did not go through any legalising process but simply acted in loco parentis.
A member of my staff a few years ago (1980's) did exactly that. She raised her daughters illegitimate son as her own son and referred to him as such to others. Although as he grew up he was made aware of the true situation he always referred to his grandmother as "My mom" and he called his biological mother by her christian name as if she were his sister. I had a great deal of respect for his grandmother for her courage in taking on the responsibility.
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That's very informative Jonesey, thank you. What do you think would have been the position in 1932? My mother was illegitimate and was brought up by her grandparents who pretended they were her parents. Would they have had to formally adopt her, or as it was in the family could it have been done without paperwork?
Thanks, Sue
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Oops! I nearly missed this one uncle Jonesey as my aerial was blown down in the storm, and I am on wireless connection. I don't think I have an interest in this one but I shall bookmark it - as I do all your pearls of wisdom - it might come in useful later.
Thanks.
Jill
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Discovering that someone in your family tree was adopted in or out can present problems when you are trying to discover their ancestors or descendants. Before starting your quest to learn more about them it is important to know a little bit about the adoption process and the relevant laws that will dictate what you can or are likely to be allowed to discover.
There are many reasons why someone might have been adopted. Social, such as death of a parent (or both parents), illegitimacy, divorce, desertion or abandonment. Economic, parent(s) being unable to support the child ect. In the 19th and early 20th centuries many parents actually advertised, seeking adoptive parents for their children. They did so in the hope that by doing so the child might stand a chance of a better life. Whatever the reason, the child themselves were very rarely in any way to blame for their own adoption.
Prior to the Adoption of Children Act 1926 adoptions were mainly informal affairs conducted between the child’s parents or guardians and the adoptive parents. Often the child would by taken in by other family members, friends or neighbours. Some adoptee’s would retain their original name whilst others might take the family name of the adoptive parents. As these “Adoptions” were informal you are unlikely to be able to find any official records of them. Some pre 1927 adoptions were arranged by adoption societies such as the Church of England Children's Society, who maintained records of the adoptions that they arranged. Boards of Guardians also prepared reports but unfortunately very few remain.
Adoption was put on a formal footing in 1926, following the publication of the Adoption of Children Act. From 1927 adoptions had to be approved by magistrates meeting in a Petty Sessions Court and each court maintained a register. These registers are closed to public inspection for 75 years.
The registers contain:
The date, name of the child to be adopted, & the date of birth.
The name and address of the birth mother (and sometimes the father).
The name and address of the adoptive parents, and sometimes the name of the person acting as Guardian ad Litem, and the decision of the court.
The clerk to the Petty Sessions Court kept a file on each adoption but many have been destroyed. Some may be deposited at the NRO, but are not open to public inspection.
When the act was drafted it was assumed that the adopted person’s break with the birth family would be total and it was believed that the adopted person would never be able to trace their birth roots.
Subsequent acts of parliament have amended the 1926 act to give rights to adoptees to learn about their origin and background but these rights generally restrict access to this information to the adoptee themselves not other family members.
EDIT Feb 2013:
The Norcap Adoption Contact website has now closed down.
If you were adopted or if you’re a birth relative of an adopted person, you can add yourself to the Adoption Contact Register to express an interest in finding your family. You can also use it to say you don’t want to be contacted.
Go to: https://www.gov.uk/adoption-records
Good luck with your research.
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