RootsChat.Com

England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Hampshire & Isle of Wight => Topic started by: LizK on Sunday 15 November 20 18:07 GMT (UK)

Title: Orphanages and children's homes in Southampton
Post by: LizK on Sunday 15 November 20 18:07 GMT (UK)
My grandmother was born in London in February 1911 and we've never been given any impression that she was properly adopted by anyone.  She didn't change her name at all, and when she married at Southampton Register office in 1928, she gave her address as 1a Chilworth Road, Southampton, which was the address of the infirmary/borough hospital.  I'm assuming that she could have been brought up in a childrens' home of some kind.  Does anyone have any information of homes in Southampton who would have taken in a baby?  Also could she have lived at the infirmary? 

Any help gratefully received, she doesn't appear in the 1911 census annoyingly.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Orphanages and children's homes in Southampton
Post by: Jebber on Sunday 15 November 20 18:32 GMT (UK)
Formal adoption didn’t start until 1927 after the Adoption Act of 1926.

At seventeen she may have been working in the Infirmary.

Can you give her name so that others can try and find her in 1911.
Title: Re: Orphanages and children's homes in Southampton
Post by: LizK on Sunday 15 November 20 19:34 GMT (UK)
Thanks for the reply, yes not having formal adoption does make things difficult. 

Her name was Gladys Maud Vincent Baskwill and she was born 18th February 1911 in Tooting, London. 

Thanks
Title: Re: Orphanages and children's homes in Southampton
Post by: KGarrad on Sunday 15 November 20 19:57 GMT (UK)
From FreeBMD:

Births, March qtr 1911
Wandsworth Registration District     vol 1d, page 672

Baskwill, Gladys M V
Title: Re: Orphanages and children's homes in Southampton
Post by: LizK on Sunday 15 November 20 20:17 GMT (UK)
She's a bit of a mystery, I have her birth certificate, and know her mother gave her away soon after birth (her mother had four children in London over 14 years and gave them all up) and her father wasn't listed on the certificate. Then there's 17 years of blankness and then she married my Grandad in Southampton. 
Title: Re: Orphanages and children's homes in Southampton
Post by: chempat on Sunday 15 November 20 21:14 GMT (UK)
What information was on the marriage certificate about her?

Have you managed to be in touch with Southampton Archives, to see if she is in any records?
Title: Re: Orphanages and children's homes in Southampton
Post by: LizK on Sunday 15 November 20 21:23 GMT (UK)
On the marriage certificate, it has her name as Gladys Maud Vincent Baskwill, her age as 18 (bit of a lie she was still 17), her address as 1a Chilworth Road, and a dash where it usually has father's name and occupation. Both witnesses were members of my Grandad's family. 

When the archives are open again for visitors I plan to go and look at school records to see if she appears, but that will be difficult to pin down. 
Title: Re: Orphanages and children's homes in Southampton
Post by: LizK on Sunday 15 November 20 21:24 GMT (UK)
duplicate sorry
Title: Re: Orphanages and children's homes in Southampton
Post by: Jebber on Sunday 15 November 20 21:29 GMT (UK)
She is certainly elusive in the 1911 Census. I have looked on various sites using all kinds of different options and there is certainly no sign of her.
Title: Re: Orphanages and children's homes in Southampton
Post by: LizK on Sunday 15 November 20 21:31 GMT (UK)
She is certainly elusive in the 1911 Census. I have looked on various sites using all kinds of different options and there is certainly no sign of her.

I guess she was less than two months old, and as she wasn't living with her family she could have been missed or on a list as 'baby' or 'nurse child'.  I'm hoping she won't be as elusive for the 1921 census...