Boarder aged 4 months

[Paul E]

Hi

I have a 4mth old boarder in one of my family's household in London in 1901.  This child has a different name to other family members.
Is it safe to assume she's a relative of some sort, or was it common for babies to be boarded out with unrelated families?
Wonder if she had her own key?

Paul

[foreign bunny]

Hi

It is quite common to see boarders of a young age - perhaps mother in hospital, has died or other reasons.

But I would not assume they are related.

Cheers
Fran

[Paul E]

Thanks Fran - very helpful.

Paul

[Josephine]

Paul,

In the 1920 U.S. census, my five-month-old grandmother and her twin brother were "boarders" at a widow's farm.  There were other children boarding there, as well as the woman's own "son" (I later learned he wasn't really her son:  his father just paid her better to keep him).  I wrote to the local family history society and learned that this woman took in unmarried women and unwanted babies and children.

At the same time, my grandmother's three-year-old sister was listed as a "boarder" in the home of her aunt, uncle and cousins, and they had a different surname.  That family ended up raising my great-aunt.

So I've seen both situations.  ; )

And I can't find either of my grandmother's parents in the 1920 U.S. census!  It drives me crazy!

Regards,
Josephine

[liverpool annie]

OK Paul!

What about this scenerio ? ..........

Dad is fighting in the Boer War - Mum is working ( munitions factory - or at least something for the war effort!) baby is at the babysitters! just happened to be there same time as the enumerator!!

In any case - the key was under the mat!!

Annie

[linmey]

My great grandmother was raised by her aunt and uncle because her mother died when she was 3 years old. She kept her surname however and was not described as a border in the census. I think it was a permanent arrangement and having no children of their own she was like a daughter to them.
   I have found several cases of a child from a large family living with relatives or in one case with a single lady who dosnt appear to be a relative.