General adoption query

[portybelle]

A friend asked me to research her grandmother who she thought might have been adopted. I know from the 1911 census that this is the case. No-one with her name was born to those parents - or under the mother's maiden name. I don't want to put the name here so it really is a general query.

I have a date of birth from her death record and census says she was born in Edinburgh. There is no birth certificate to be found by the family. Family story is that she was 'found on the doorstep' but surely she must have been registered to somone and it certainly wasn't the adoptive parents - in fact the father named on her marriage and death record had died two years before she was born!

This all took place around 1900 so I know there will be no formal adoption records at all.

Is it worth me searching the first name of this person for the alleged year of birth or is it possible to find out all girls born on the stated date of birth in Edinburgh to see if any look possible? Or am I just clutching at straws?!

[sancti]

I would say you are clutching at straws as it really depends on the accuracy of the birth record and also the place of birth.

In the 1960s my wife's grandfather needed a copy of his birth certificate the claim his pension, when he went to the registrars he found out that not only had he been celebrating his birthday 2 days late every year but his children had a different spelling of the surname than he had on his birth certificate. 

[portybelle]

Thanks Sancti - believe it or not I found my straw! With some help, searched the first name in that year and up she popped. She was illegitimate. Looks like adoption was already agreed by time of registration as the full name was known by was registered with just the birth mother's surname on the end.

Regarding your wife's grandfather, my gran was the same - celebrated her birthday one day out for over 70 years! Can't remember how she found out.

[Marmyall]

Trying to help my niece do her family tree, but her father (my brother in law) was adopted by my late husband's family when he was only a baby, this would be in the very early 1960's as I have his birth as 1959, in the west of Fife, the problem we have is we dont know if the forename he grew up with is the one he was given at birth or by his adoptive parents, how do we go about trying to track down his birth & adoption records. If at all possible.
Thanks

[MonicaL]

Hi Marmyall

I am sure you are probably aware of this but just to stress that given how recent the events are in your post, it is advisable to keep identifying details off the posting as you have indeed done to protect people's identities. Thank you 

Monica

[Forfarian]

how do we go about trying to track down his birth & adoption records. If at all possible.

You don't, but if he is willing to do so I think that he, and he only, can apply for a copy of his original birth certificate.

You can look at his adoption certificate if you go to the Scotland's People Centre in Edinburgh. It will tell you the names of his adoptive parents, his date of birth and country of birth.

[Marmyall]

Hi

Thanks for the replies, but as the adopted person is now deceased and we already have the information you say we would find at Scotland's people, in Edinburgh, it seems my niece will have to give up that route of enquiry.

Thanks again

Marion

[carolineasb]

Hi Marion,

That may not be the case!

If your niece writes to the appropriate Sheriff Court (Dunfermline? possibly?) at their Adoption Section explaining the circumstances that she would like to see the Adoption papers for the purposes of doing her Family Tree and is able to produce proof of her father's death and her identity, the Sheriff may consider whether she can be allowed to look at the papers.  He or she may ask for more information to consider their decision.  The addresses of Scottish Sheriff Courts are on the Scottish Courts Service Website.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Regards

Caroline

[dawnsh]

I don't know if the law is different in Scotland, but in England & Wales only adopted children can apply to see their papers. If they are born before 1975 they will require counselling before the information is given.

Adoptions made before 1975 were done with the knowledge that the whole process was very sensitive and secretive, and the adopted child wouldn't be able to contact their adoptive parents and vice versa.

Unfortunately the children & siblings of deceased adoptees do not have access to birth papers.

Dawn