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.
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Against the record of Thomas in 1921 it says “father dead “
But the sister is listed as boarder implying she had a different father
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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
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"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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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 ??
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