St. Margarets Unmarried Mothers Hostel - 262 Victoria Park Road Hackney

[Baverstock]

Hi Dawn, I have registered with the contact register but as yet nothing has come of it. The only good thing is they are probably alive as I have heard that if an adopted has since died the GRO can now inform you, So perhaps there is still time to find them.

Phil

[dawnsh]

I didn't know that, I wonder how they know?

[Baverstock]

I assume if the death is registered it flags up somewhere and gets attached to the file, just a guess. It came up in one of the lost Cousin's news letters, if I can find the article I post it on here, don't hold your breath though it was a bit back.

[dawnsh]

I would have thought that to be highly unlikely knowing that birth, marriage and death registrations are not linked in anyway by computer at the GRO.

If that were possible, those of us doing our family trees would have no problem finding the relevant registrations of our elusive ancestors.

It might be feasible if the deceased adopted person's family advised the GRO at the time of death and the information is noted on the files they hold.

[Baverstock]

Just a quick look about but didn't find the original item, if I can find I will repost here.

It looks as if it may come into force later this year, have a look at this and see what you think.

http://www.adoptionsearchreunion.org.uk/search/dap/

[dawnsh]

I think plans are underway for the children of deceased adopted people to be able to access the adoption files so that they can trace their family history/heritage.

I think that this will still rely on the deceased adopted person's family coming forward and explaining that the person has died and they would like access to the files, which currently they cannot have.

I also know of several examples where living adopted people didn't know they were adopted until their parents had died. During the legal process of sorting out the estates, they find they don't have a full birth cert and try to obtain one, only to find there is no entry for them in the birth index but there is one in the Adopted Children's Index.

There was and still is a lot of sensitivity surrounding adoptions prior to changes in the 1970's and 1980's.

[Baverstock]

Not sure how it will effect things but your more than likely right.

It did occur to me that my Sister and Brother may not know they are adopted, or if they do, out of respect may not think it is the right time to go looking if their adopted parents are still alive, can't blame them for that can you.

Still I live in hope that it will happen, if it's meant to be it will happen. It dose vex me though that when they changed it in 2005/6 that they didn't put something in place instead of leaving it to the private sector, councils could and should of been forced to have an intermediary service but hey ho.

Better shut up, I'm a bit off topic. Like the idea of a TV documentary mentioned earlier though. Thanks for your input, Phil

[dawnsh]

This could be helpful

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/visiting-the-city/archives-and-city-history/london-metropolitan-archives/Documents/visitor-information/2012-adoption-in-care-guidelines-for-enquirers.pdf

[Baverstock]

I've not seen this before, I'll have a look later when I've finished all my jobs or I won't get any brownie points from "She who must be obeyed". 

Many thanks Dawn, regards Phil