Who am I and why did I not exist

[spades]

Urk!

[Beg Clonrode...]

Hello Sue...

If Jack GRAY has a male descendant have you considered, as a loooong term strategy, a Y-DNA test.

Regards
Beg

[spades]

The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) didn't keep records of inmates?

I have to say I'm appalled.

But did they keep records which they later disposed of, or might they have sent them to National Library or another archive? I can't see anything on Archway.

[suemillie]

Hi  Beg

Yes he had 6 of us  -  five sons - do you mean for future use?.  I have often thought of pulling a few hairs from a number of people that look like him - but then I would no doubt be put in an institution myself!!!  And I guess it does not help at this stage with his birth registration.

I am sure that if there was a genealogy site for family photos purely for lost souls it would be interesting to see any resemblance in families that might help in connecting the dots.

Spades – WCTU kept a lot of records but certainly not on inmates names - not the sort of thing done in those days and considering they were trying hard to prevent any kind of ungodly acts, illegitimate children were certainly hidden and not recorded in detail.

sue

[minniehaha]

According to a report in the 'Dominion' dated 15.3.1920, it was at that stage plans were afoot to establish a home, the proposed name being "The Willard Home for Children".............


Minniehaha.

[suemillie]

Hi

Yes it was finally established in 1920 and only urgent case were accepted.  Dad was obviously somewhere before this time for at least the two years but no trace.  The home was run not only by the WCTU and the church but also the public.  I learnt all about the home but they had a fire at some stage and all records were burnt. Just to add to my frustration.

I am sure he exists somewhere in government records but unfortunately they are not available to Joe public.

Sue

[spades]

Hi Sue,

I have two illegitimate children who ended up in an Industrial School in the 1880's, both were named in the lists of inmates submitted each year. Industrial School record-keeping was thorough as their charges were effectively wards of the state.

I'm sorry for you that the WCTU records have disappeared.

Spades

[minniehaha]

A report in the 'Feilding Star' dated 28.5.1920-

"At present children from this Coast have often to be sent to Wellington or to more distant homes......."

[This as plans were still underway re the setting up of the Willard Home.]


Minniehaha.

[spades]

So do we need to look for an Industrial School for Boys in Wellington?

There was St Joseph's in Wellington but that was a girl's School.