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Baby born the workhouse

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ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 9 Aug 2023 15:32

The story may be true .

As has been said, it's unlikely that the hospital official would have been the informant if the person leaving with the baby was not the one who had given birth to the child.

However, as Linda's grandmother (born November 1901, per Linda) would only have been 15 when the baby was conceived, and only just 16 when he was born in December 1917 , if she was the mother she may well have felt unable or unwilling to bring up a baby.

Her sister (born May 1900) would have been 17.5 when the baby was born, so perhaps the sisters had agreed that she would "adopt" him, and therefore L's grandmother gave her sister's name when she was admitted to the hospital, to avoid any paperwork difficulties later.

If the sister came to the hospital to meet the mother and child when they were discharged, she may indeed have been the person who then physically "took him out of the workhouse".

Admittedly, that just speculation!

Linda has been in touch with Nottingham Archives, and they can look up the records for her, for a fee.

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it Report 11 Aug 2023 11:07

Against the record of Thomas in 1921 it says “father dead “

But the sister is listed as boarder implying she had a different father

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 11 Aug 2023 17:50

Whose sister?

Also, I think that whether or not a parent was deceased was recorded only for under16’s……….can’t at the moment verify that

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 11 Aug 2023 18:19


"Whose sister?"

The sister (Annie Elizabeth) of Thomas, the child born in the workhouse in 1917.

Shirley is only partly correct.

Their mother (or supposed mother) Elizabeth May is listed as "boarder", and Annie Elizabeth is listed as "boarder's child".
Thomas is listed as "grandson".

In the "Marriage or Orphanhood" column it says "Father dead" for Thomas, and has ditto marks in that column against Annie's name.

As both were illegitimate births, I assume that "Father dead" is invented for respectability - though of course might be true.

The fact that Thomas is "grandson" but Annie is "boarder's child" suggests to me that Thomas was not Elizabeth May's child - unless it's just what the enumerator wrote, whether rightly or wrongly.

I don't see a marriage for the supposed grandparents - at least not if the wife's maiden name was Scott, which suggests they might be Thomas's father's parents.

Albert Thornton, 43, Nottingham, general labourer (out of work), and Annie E Thornton, 38, Nottingham.

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 11 Aug 2023 18:43

As I suggested on 8 Aug at 19:54, I think this is that couple in 1911.
They have a son with them - but I can find no other record of him - not even his birth.
And how can unmarried Jane Dale be Albert Thornton's sister?

Albert Thornton
in the 1911 England Census
Name Albert Thornton
Age in 1911 31
Estimated Birth Year abt 1880
Relation to Head Head
Gender Male
Birth Place Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Civil parish Nottingham
County/Island Nottinghamshire
Country England
Street Address 7 Page Street Off Mortimer Street Nottingham
Marital Status Married
Occupation Carter
Registration District Number 430
Sub-registration district Nottingham South West
ED, institution, or vessel 20
Piece 20509
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Albert Thornton 31 Head
Annie Eliza Thornton 27 Wife
Jane Dale 15 Sister - single
Sarah Caffery 21 Niece - married - Lace dresser
John Thomas Thornton Ushon 11 Son
Kate Caffery 3 Child - nurse child
Lily Caffery 1 Child - nurse child

All born Nottingham

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 11 Aug 2023 19:08

Heading off at a bit of a tangent - this looks like Sarah, the niece, in 1939:

Sarah Caffrey
in the 1939 England and Wales Register
Name Sarah Caffrey
Gender Female
Marital Status Married
Birth Date 9 Mar 1890
Residence Date 1939
Address 70 Landcroft Cres
Residence Place Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Occupation Lace Dresser <<<<<<
Line Number 1
Schedule Number 34
Sub Schedule Number 2
Enumeration District Rmae
Borough Nottingham
Registration district 1
Household Members (Name) Gender
James Caffrey Male
Sarah Caffrey Female
James Caffrey - Male - 21 April 1927



Marriages Jun 1907 (99%)
CAFFREY James Nottingham 7b 719
ROBINSON Sarah Nottingham 7b 719

??
Births Mar 1927 (>99%)
Robinson James P Robinson Basford 7b 339


The nurse children in 1911 census:

CAFFREY, LILY mmn ROBINSON
GRO Reference: 1909 D Quarter in NOTTINGHAM Volume 07B Page 358

CAFFERY, KATE mmn ROBINSON
GRO Reference: 1907 S Quarter in NOTTINGHAM Volume 07B Page 330

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 11 Aug 2023 19:20

Sarah's birth:

ROBINSON, SARAH mmn THORNTON
GRO Reference: 1891 J Quarter in NOTTINGHAM Volume 07B Page 389


Marriages Mar 1888 (>99%)
ROBINSON Frederick Alonzo Nottingham 7b 310a
THORNTON Elizabeth Annie Nottingham 7b 310a


However, that's no help with how Albert and Annie Thornton might be Thomas's grandparents.

Linda

Linda Report 12 Aug 2023 22:50

Hi I am so confused about who is who in this family but I am at my son's home in Cornwall at the moment but I will look into it in more detail when I get home ??