Genealogy Chat

My grandfather was born in 1913 and always said that he was left on the doorstep of a Barnardos home because his mother did not want him. I have his birth certificate and mother is listed as a laundry assistant and father listed as unknown. His mother remarried in 1917 and as far as I can see she did not have any other children. Her husband died in 1942 and is listed as Widower. I have not been able to trace her death.

I requested a search with Barnardos which reveal that he was not a Barnardos child. If he was not a Barnardos child in 1913 where would he have gone too?

Any advice on where to search will be greatly appreciated

where was he born there were other childrens homes like the McPherson home in the East End of London. My maternal grandfather put his 4 children in one in c 1905 when he lost his first wife and he was unable to look after them ,

He was born/married/died in Middlesbrough which in 1913 which came under Yorkshire.

I googled childrens home in 1913 and the only links I can find are the workhouse.

Would he have gone to the workhouse in 1913?

Have you been in contact with a local family history group who will have more specialised knowledge of the area?

He may have been left on a doorstep somewhere, but if you have his birth certificate he was not abandoned unknown.

Well my FIL was put in a home in the early 1900's

He always said it was Barnados but they had no record of him .

After lots of searching and enquiring of different homes we were put in touch with a local council run department . Took ages for them to respond. And being fobbed off that they didn't have time to go looking. .they finally came back with his record of being in a local council run home that was split into houses with a married couple running each house on a family home type basis for kiddies under 8
After 8 they went into the main house . The children did go to local schools to be educated

This was in the Birmingham area .

Dad was born in 1901 but by 1911 was in the home . He stayed there till he 14 then passed onto the next stage when he went into a boys only facility and was then put to a trade. He stayed there till he was 16 then was put into digs .

He left Birmingham as soon as he was no longer under supervision and came to London where he went into catering and became a chef

Angela....There was also Nazareth House Park Rd Sth. and Broomlands on Cambridge Rd.dont know if that was a Barnardos Home...
There was also a home on Ayrsome Green Lane St Barnabas Middlesbro.this is the ref for 1901 Census RG13 folio 148 page 35.
You could try the Teeside Archives...

teeside [email protected]

Thank you for your help, I will try the Teesside Archives and local history society.

Regards

Angela

This child was registered at birth and death as "Not Wanted"


Births Mar 1861 (>99%)
COLVILL Not Wanted James Lambeth 1d 312
========================
Deaths Jun 1861 (>99%)
Colvill Not Wanted James St George S 1d 111

Can I ask

What makes you think that this story is true?

Was your Grandfather not living with his mum ? or even grand parents

Poor little mite as posted by Mark. At least never lived long enough to know his name included not wanted

Just a wild thought Mark, as his mother was listed as a laundry assistant, have you considered that she may have been in a Catholic home for unwed mothers? ie. Magdalene Laundries?

Angela,

The story in my husbands family was that his grandfather was a foundling, and nobody knew where he came from. But when I started doing my husbands family tree, I sent for his grandparents marriage cert, from there found he had married for a second time. On his second marriage cert, it stated that someone came forward to verify that grandad had been born with an entirlely different name. Then I was able to trace his proper family. It turned out he was illegitamate, and the family next door to where he was born, had brought him up as their own son.
So you can never really take things at face value.

Good hunting.

why do i feel like getting that poor little mite birth cert

God Bless Him <3 <3 <3 <3