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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Staffordshire => Topic started by: robP on Monday 14 November 16 20:17 GMT (UK)
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Hi all
I am looking for help finding an adoption record for an uncle of mine. His name as I knew it was Bill Johnson, his mother was a Maria Mason or Maria Mainwood. He was born in or around the Dudley, Wolverhampton or surrounding area. He was born C1927 give or take 4 years. Well I have always assumed he was older than my father and my father was born in 1933. My father and Bill's would have been different people.
Any trace or evidence for me to follow would be greatly received. Thanks in advance
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Have you searched for his birth certificate?
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Was he adopted into the Johnson family, or given up for adoption? Did Maria become Mrs Johnson?
Have you looked for his death registration to identify his birthdate?
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How the Locating Adoption Records database can help you find records
http://www.adoptionsearchreunion.org.uk/search/questions/
Child adoption had no legal status in Britain (including under the separate legal system of Scotland) until 1926, when the first Act was passed which regulated this in England and Wales. Until then, child adoption was an informal and generally secretive procedure which gave the adoptive parents no rights whatsoever: a biological parent could (and in some cases, did) appear at any time and demand custody of a child they had neither seen nor contributed to the care of for years at a time.
http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/review/806
Sandra
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Hi Rob
The GRO maintains & publishes the Adopted Childrens Index. It isn't online but can be viewed at one of the 7 GRO host sites around England & Wales including Birmingham.
If you can't get there, I visit the British Library on a fairly regular basis and can check for you.
There is more information here
https://www.gov.uk/adoption-records
Is Bill still alive?
I don't know if your relationship to Bill is close enough to allow you access to his adoption file if he is deceased
The law is being changed to allow this
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/relatives-of-adopted-adults-now-able-to-trace-family-tree
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If I am on the right track, Maria Mason (b 1892) married John B Mainwood in Walsall, Mar qtr 1919, and had a daughter Amy Mainwood in Sep qtr 1919.
Maria subsequently got together with Richard James Poole and they had a Poole/Mason son together in Wolverhampton in 1933. They belatedly married in 1949 (she as Maria Mainwood).
Maria died as Ann Maria Poole in 1954 with probate to her married daughter Amy Rawcliffe.
So was Bill adopted by the Pooles, or was he given up by Maria for adoption by a Johnson family? If the latter, his birth registration may have been as Mason or Mainwood.
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If Bill died in England or Wales after 1969, his entry in the death index should show a date of birth.
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AVM228 - you are indeed on the right lines, Maria did marry a Poole (Belatedly), she was my grandmother (who I never met). Bill (Bill/William, may have been his correct first name) Johnson would have been his adopted name and he was my uncle.
As has been suggested, I will try to find his death reference. although not sure when he passed away. Will trawl through the various years to find out.
Thanks everyone, very much appreciated.