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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: tawny75 on Wednesday 02 March 11 22:44 GMT (UK)
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Hi all
We have an on going family mystery which I am hoping to solve. My Great Aunt Florence Eliza Smith became pregnant outside of marriage in 1924 and according to snippets from the older members of the family, she was 'sent away' to have her baby. Her baby was registered as being born in 'Mothers Hospital, Clapton' The birth is registered in Hackney in 1925.
Now this is where the mystery comes in. Family information has it that Florence Eliza died and then the baby was brought up by her grandparents as another daughter. I am trying to find Florence Eliza's death. I have found a death on the BMD register in 1932 Vol 1d page 508.
As far as family lore goes, the child did not know any of this until she applied for a passport as an adult.
Now is Battersea close to Clapton? Would there have to be some form of formal adoption or would it just 'happen'?
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Prior to 1927 there was no formal adoption process, in many instances a child was simply "adopted" into the extended family or taken in by neighbours/family friends and brought up as a member of their own family. Occasionally it was arranged through a solicitor, doctor or charitable organisation but adoption was viewed as an essentially private arrangement between the parties concerned.
Stan
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Hi,
Battersea is south west of the City and Clapton is north east; so not close.
Nanny Jan
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Do you have anything to give a clue as to where the family were living around the time when Florence became pregnant? If she was 'sent away' to have the baby what's to say that the family weren't living in the Battersea area and sent her away to Clapton?
I have a Great Aunt in my tree who had a child out of wedlock in 1910, he was left with his Grandparents. 12 months later the Great Aunt had another child in the area where she was working in service some 20 miles away. Clapton and Battersea are only about 10 miles apart so I don't think you should rule that death out completely.
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Oh yes, they were living in Buckingham, Florence's Father (my G Grandfather) was a publican.
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It was quite common for an unmarried daughter to be "sent away" to have her illegitimate baby, sometimes to another part of the country.
Another thing that could happen was that mother & daughter went away and came back with the baby who was brought up as the grandparents child and thinking their mother was their elder sister.
Oh and yes Clapton is East London and Battersea is SW London and there is a river called the Thames also seperating them.
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Hi
Have you checked with the Salvation Army records for the birth which may give further information about Florence and whether she was working in London at the time?
The Mothers' Hospital in Clapton
http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki_ihc.nsf/vw-sublinks/FFCF49855F479E718025704B0043C860?openDocument
Salvation Army mother's homes' records
http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki_ihc.nsf/vw-sublinks/F4506A1B46FAC25B8025704B004496F1?openDocument
Regards
Valda