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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: portybelle on Saturday 27 August 11 17:02 BST (UK)
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A friend asked me to research her grandmother who she thought might have been adopted. I know from the 1911 census that this is the case. No-one with her name was born to those parents - or under the mother's maiden name. I don't want to put the name here so it really is a general query.
I have a date of birth from her death record and census says she was born in Edinburgh. There is no birth certificate to be found by the family. Family story is that she was 'found on the doorstep' but surely she must have been registered to somone and it certainly wasn't the adoptive parents - in fact the father named on her marriage and death record had died two years before she was born!
This all took place around 1900 so I know there will be no formal adoption records at all.
Is it worth me searching the first name of this person for the alleged year of birth or is it possible to find out all girls born on the stated date of birth in Edinburgh to see if any look possible? Or am I just clutching at straws?!
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I would say you are clutching at straws as it really depends on the accuracy of the birth record and also the place of birth.
In the 1960s my wife's grandfather needed a copy of his birth certificate the claim his pension, when he went to the registrars he found out that not only had he been celebrating his birthday 2 days late every year but his children had a different spelling of the surname than he had on his birth certificate. ;D
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Thanks Sancti - believe it or not I found my straw! With some help, searched the first name in that year and up she popped. She was illegitimate. Looks like adoption was already agreed by time of registration as the full name was known by was registered with just the birth mother's surname on the end.
Regarding your wife's grandfather, my gran was the same - celebrated her birthday one day out for over 70 years! Can't remember how she found out.
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Trying to help my niece do her family tree, but her father (my brother in law) was adopted by my late husband's family when he was only a baby, this would be in the very early 1960's as I have his birth as 1959, in the west of Fife, the problem we have is we dont know if the forename he grew up with is the one he was given at birth or by his adoptive parents, how do we go about trying to track down his birth & adoption records. If at all possible.
Thanks
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Hi Marmyall
I am sure you are probably aware of this but just to stress that given how recent the events are in your post, it is advisable to keep identifying details off the posting as you have indeed done to protect people's identities. Thank you :)
Monica
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how do we go about trying to track down his birth & adoption records. If at all possible.
You don't, but if he is willing to do so I think that he, and he only, can apply for a copy of his original birth certificate.
You can look at his adoption certificate if you go to the Scotland's People Centre in Edinburgh. It will tell you the names of his adoptive parents, his date of birth and country of birth.
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Hi
Thanks for the replies, but as the adopted person is now deceased and we already have the information you say we would find at Scotland's people, in Edinburgh, it seems my niece will have to give up that route of enquiry.
Thanks again
Marion
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Hi Marion,
That may not be the case!
If your niece writes to the appropriate Sheriff Court (Dunfermline? possibly?) at their Adoption Section explaining the circumstances that she would like to see the Adoption papers for the purposes of doing her Family Tree and is able to produce proof of her father's death and her identity, the Sheriff may consider whether she can be allowed to look at the papers. He or she may ask for more information to consider their decision. The addresses of Scottish Sheriff Courts are on the Scottish Courts Service Website.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Regards
Caroline
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I don't know if the law is different in Scotland, but in England & Wales only adopted children can apply to see their papers. If they are born before 1975 they will require counselling before the information is given.
Adoptions made before 1975 were done with the knowledge that the whole process was very sensitive and secretive, and the adopted child wouldn't be able to contact their adoptive parents and vice versa.
Unfortunately the children & siblings of deceased adoptees do not have access to birth papers.
Dawn
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Hi Caroline,
Thanks for your reply, I'll check with my niece to see what papers if any she has regarding her dad, there is the added problem that he had separated from the family a couple of years before his death so he may have taken his papers with him.
Marion
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Dawn, as you comment, legal requirements not really any different in Scotland. For guidance, www.nas.gov.uk/guides/adoptions.asp
Monica
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Hi
It is a matter for the Sheriff of the appropriate Court whether the sealed Adoption papers are allowed to be opened or not, even by the Adopted person. The papers (petition etc), in any event, are not likely to be as extensive as they are now as this adoption was in the the late 50s/early 60s.
C
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I have another adoption query I would appreciate folks thoughts on.
I was looking up a record of an elderly friend out of sheer nosiness which turned out to be an adoption. As she is still very much alive I won't put any personal details but would like to know your opinions on what I found.
The lady in question was born in 1929. The adoption record I found is dated 1943 when she would have been 14. She seems to have been named after her (adoptive) maternal grandmother. The adoptive parents were married in 1911 and had three sons born 1912, 1915 and 1921.
Would the adoption date be the date it was formalised? Surely she wouldn't have had her name changed at 14? Hope that makes sense. I know I won't be able to trace the real parents, I'm just confused by the dates etc.
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I have another adoption query I would appreciate folks thoughts on.
I was looking up a record of an elderly friend out of sheer nosiness which turned out to be an adoption. As she is still very much alive I won't put any personal details but would like to know your opinions on what I found.
The lady in question was born in 1929. The adoption record I found is dated 1943 when she would have been 14. She seems to have been named after her (adoptive) maternal grandmother. The adoptive parents were married in 1911 and had three sons born 1912, 1915 and 1921.
Would the adoption date be the date it was formalised? Surely she wouldn't have had her name changed at 14? Hope that makes sense. I know I won't be able to trace the real parents, I'm just confused by the dates etc.
Assuming all of this took place in Scotland, it may well be that she was adopted privately as a baby (legal adoption not being in place until the coming into force of the Adoption of Children (Scotland) Act 1930) and they decided to go for a statutory adoption later for inheritance or other reasons.
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Were these events (birth & adoption) in Scotland? I'm unclear what you mean about finding Adoption records. Do you mean that you have seen the Birth Register from 1929 and it is stamped "Adopted" with a date in 1943?
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Adoption was in Scotland yes. I suppose I couldn't be 100% certain about the birth.
When I searched for the birth record it was not available but had a different kind of reference from normal. As I was at the Records Office in Edinburgh I was able to see the adoption microfiche which gave me her adoptive parents names.
Thank you for comments. Looks like 1943 was the formalising then.
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I have another adoption query I would appreciate folks thoughts on.
I was looking up a record of an elderly friend out of sheer nosiness which turned out to be an adoption. .......... I know I won't be able to trace the real parents, I'm just confused by the dates etc.
If you were adopted in Scotland
If you were adopted in Scotland you can see or obtain a copy of your original birth certificate from the age of 16 years. The full birth certificate will give the following information:
The name under which you were registered at birth. The date, place and time of your birth.
The name, address and signature of the person who registered the birth - usually the birth mother. The date and place of the marriage if the birth parents were married.
You can obtain a copy of your birth certificate by writing to:
The Adoption Unit
General Register Office
New Register House
Edinburgh EH1 3YT
Phone 0131 334 0380
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This lady friend may be completely unaware she was adopted or may never want for people to know this about her....Sure you have this covered Portybelle :)
Monica
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You are absolutely right Monica- which is why I cannot ask her about it at all! I think she knows something though as she made a comment about not knowing her father which is why I was being nosy!