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Author Topic: Orphans - How Do I Find Out About Them?  (Read 2980 times)

Offline DavidJP

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Orphans - How Do I Find Out About Them?
« on: Thursday 10 October 13 19:35 BST (UK) »
Hi all,

I have recently discovered the existence in the household of a relative of some orphans. How did this couple come to have at least 2 orphans & possibly more? I don't know. This has left me rather intrigued, below I will attempt set out what I know.

My 3x gt uncle James Phillips was born in Nutfield, Surrey in 1836 & died in 1924 probably in Leatherhead as that is where was living. He married Ann Carter on 25th April 1863 in Leatherhead. In 1871 James & Ann are in Leatherhead & it would appear with no children of their own. However there are two boys both orphans in the house they being Fredwick (probably Frederick) Thomas age 11 & Brampton Phillips age 3 both born in London.

In 1881 James & Ann are living at Gravell Hill, Leatherhead (RG11/763/27/3), James is a Coachman Domestic Servant. In the house are James B Phillips (Brampton in 1871) age 13 born London but now described as Son, Frederick G Phillips (Fredwick Thomas in 1871) age 21 born London but now described as Nephew, there is also now an Ann M Brown age 9 born Effingham, Surrey (probably the Anna Maria Brown b1871 in Dorking reg dist) described as Niece & Gilbert Smith age 3, Nurse Child born Manchester (the only Gilbert Smith birth I can find is for one b1877 in Bolton reg dist.)

From what I can see, James & Ann were possibly unable to have children of their own & took children in. Did they take in 4 orphans in total? Is there any way of finding any records of orphans & where they came from & also adoptions if they adopted any of them?

James Brampton Phillips gives his place of birth as Leatherhead in 1901 & 1911 & is living in Wallington in 1901 & Hampton in 1911.

Any help with this would gratefully received as this is the first time that I have come across orphans in my family history so is a completely new area of research for me.

Kind regards

David
Aitcheson, Aldred, Batty, Bauer, Bone, Brewer, Dean, Doyle, Durant, Fife, Finney, Gibson, Graham/Grayham, Hall, Harrison, Hersey, Hill, Holliss, Hudson, Hussey, Insley, Kelsey, King, Laver, Longmore, Luke, Mellor, Newman, North, Parker, Phillips, Porter, Read, Robinson, Rowel, Spink, Sproxton, Steer, Stevenson, Tanner, Witty/Whitty, Warburton, Wood.
(For more information on the above surnames please check the Surname Interest Table below.)

Offline Mabel Bagshawe

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Re: Orphans - How Do I Find Out About Them?
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 10 October 13 19:55 BST (UK) »
Gilbert being described as a nurse child is a clue. This was often a private fostering service, sometimes involving a financial agreement between the mother - possibly unmarried and in service - and the "foster" parent for the child's board and lodgings (the quality varied - some places were known as baby farms). Alternatively  the poor law guardians placed the youngest children/orphans with local families before they could be managed in the workhouse school

Offline Mabel Bagshawe

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Re: Orphans - How Do I Find Out About Them?
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 10 October 13 19:58 BST (UK) »
The older boys may be related to James and Ann. This cuold be Brampton's baptism

James Brampton Gorley Philps  [possibly Orley or Horley]
Birth 6 Oct 1867
Baptism 13 Aug 1871
Leatherhead, St Mary and St Nicholas
Mother -    Jane Philps


Offline DavidJP

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Re: Orphans - How Do I Find Out About Them?
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 10 October 13 20:21 BST (UK) »
Hi Mabel Bagshawe,

Many thanks for your replies, very much appreciated.

Your explanation re 'Nurse Child' is most interesting, as I was unaware what the meaning of it was.

The possible baptism you have found is most intriguing as well, I don't know anything about a Jane!

It's becoming more & more intriguing!

Kind regards

David
Aitcheson, Aldred, Batty, Bauer, Bone, Brewer, Dean, Doyle, Durant, Fife, Finney, Gibson, Graham/Grayham, Hall, Harrison, Hersey, Hill, Holliss, Hudson, Hussey, Insley, Kelsey, King, Laver, Longmore, Luke, Mellor, Newman, North, Parker, Phillips, Porter, Read, Robinson, Rowel, Spink, Sproxton, Steer, Stevenson, Tanner, Witty/Whitty, Warburton, Wood.
(For more information on the above surnames please check the Surname Interest Table below.)

Offline groom

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Re: Orphans - How Do I Find Out About Them?
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 10 October 13 21:00 BST (UK) »
Quote
Is there any way of finding any records of orphans & where they came from & also adoptions if they adopted any of them?

There will be no records of any adoptions as formal adoption did not exist in England and Wales until 1927.

Wasn't there something on one of the Who Do You Think You Are programmes where children from Children's Homes were housed with people?
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Offline DavidJP

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Re: Orphans - How Do I Find Out About Them?
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 10 October 13 21:15 BST (UK) »
Hi Groom,

Many thanks for your reply, much appreciated.

Thanks for clarification re adoption, didn't know anything about that.

Quote
Wasn't there something on one of the Who Do You Think You Are programmes where children from Children's Homes were housed with people?


Yep, certainly was, this last series just finished. Be darned if I can remember who the Celeb was though! ;D

Kind regards

David
Aitcheson, Aldred, Batty, Bauer, Bone, Brewer, Dean, Doyle, Durant, Fife, Finney, Gibson, Graham/Grayham, Hall, Harrison, Hersey, Hill, Holliss, Hudson, Hussey, Insley, Kelsey, King, Laver, Longmore, Luke, Mellor, Newman, North, Parker, Phillips, Porter, Read, Robinson, Rowel, Spink, Sproxton, Steer, Stevenson, Tanner, Witty/Whitty, Warburton, Wood.
(For more information on the above surnames please check the Surname Interest Table below.)

Offline Megran

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Re: Orphans - How Do I Find Out About Them?
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 10 October 13 21:25 BST (UK) »
WDYTYA -- Lesley Sharp. Megran.
Caunt - Manchester & area, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire.
Edwards - Cheshire, Denbighshire, Manchester
Lloyd - Marbury area,Cheshire
Isherwood - Bolton/Sharples, Lancashire
Vaughan - Marbury area, Cheshire
Walker - Manchester/Bolton/Sharples, Lancashire

Offline DavidJP

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Re: Orphans - How Do I Find Out About Them?
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 10 October 13 22:02 BST (UK) »
Hi Megran,

Many thanks for that, that would have bugged me for ages!  ;D

Kind regards

David
Aitcheson, Aldred, Batty, Bauer, Bone, Brewer, Dean, Doyle, Durant, Fife, Finney, Gibson, Graham/Grayham, Hall, Harrison, Hersey, Hill, Holliss, Hudson, Hussey, Insley, Kelsey, King, Laver, Longmore, Luke, Mellor, Newman, North, Parker, Phillips, Porter, Read, Robinson, Rowel, Spink, Sproxton, Steer, Stevenson, Tanner, Witty/Whitty, Warburton, Wood.
(For more information on the above surnames please check the Surname Interest Table below.)

Offline Dawn Soger

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Re: Orphans - How Do I Find Out About Them?
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 23 March 14 23:50 GMT (UK) »
David,
Thank you for posting the topic!  My grandmother was a British Home Child (as were her oldest brother, and an older sister) she was sent to Canada with Miss Rye's Home for Destitute Little Girls.  I have learned quite a bit about British Home Children thanks in part to the efforts of a Mr. Snow, who has a group for British Home Children (we all seem to now collect "snowflakes" as a memento of our BHC ancestors).  I have been trying to fill in some blanks in my family history as well as trace her steps and those of her parents. (I'm blessed to have letters from the 1800's and forward.)  I am learning a lot!
I was hoping to find out if any of the children had been placed with local families before being sent to Canada.
Thanks again!
Dawn
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