Missing grandma .. brickwall?

[babsfamhis]

Hi all
I'm probably not seeing the obvious, but have the following brickwall...
If a  child was adopted at a few weeks old in 1889,  and registered by the  adoptive parents would the cert show both surnames ?

I Have been trying to trace my Grandmother  and all I have is a combination of names.
Mary Ann   ATKINS (this appears on a sons birth certs)
Alice GRIFFITHS (this appears on another  of her sons Birth certs)

I don't know which was her birth name and I don't know where she was born, although Berkampsted? has been mentioned. She married as Mary Ann ATKINS but was always called Alice by family and always celebrated her birthday in may.  I can't find her on 1901 census and there are a few possible births ........help..................


Where is she???

B

[PaulineJ]

Berkhampstead (Berkshire) is a possible birthplcae. What details were on the marriage cert.?

When/where? All names appearing (even witnesses) , all occupations where given.

Pauline

[babsfamhis]

Mum has marriage cert and can't get hold of her till weekend !!! but I know witnesses were brother and sister of groom.,. fathers name not given... marriage was in 1907, Islington to Albert James Bowley

Have just spken to Old Uncle and he says she was born illegitimately  as Alice Griffiths in 1889 either Hertfordshire or Buckinghamshire. (said to be born in a hansom cab!)

B

[PaulineJ]

Hmm, I don't think that formal adoption existed back then. All I can suggest is birth index searches concentrating on those two counties, and then see how many candidates can be matched to families in the 1891/1901 census (a horrendous job)!

Pauline

[babsfamhis]

Thanks anyway
One of those rainyday/nothing better to do jobs.

The sad thing is that when she died they found a tin box with letters from her birth mother and decided to bury it with her!!!!

Exhumation!
B