Adoption information

[finta]

Thank you stanmapstone, Margaret March and wivenhoe.  I thought I had already posted replies but they seem not to have reached the messageboard!

Ethel (b. Hebburn, South Shields abt 1906) is listed last on the 1911 census last, but she is also last in descending age order. Two other children are recorded as children of this marriage and these are recorded as aged 13 and 11.  Wife Eleanor's (adoptive mother) age given as 51 (b. Blyth, Northumberland).  Husband Francis is at his mother's house on census day and was aged about 44.

The 'adoptive' father was one of 8 sons (no daughters) and so my line of thinking is that maybe Ethel was the illegitimate daughter of one of these sons, or their offspring, and Ethel was given the mother's name.  Or, as Margaret March suggested, the middle name Graham might have been the birth father's name.

I cannot find a marriage record for Francis (aka Frank on parent's death certs) and Eleanor (recorded as Eleanor A Robertson on 1901 census).

Thank you all so much for your help...any more would be welcome!

Finta

[stanmapstone]

If you don't have it the marriage of Ethel G Robertson and Lancelot Plunton was registered in South Shields Sept ¼ 1926.

Stan
 

[stanmapstone]

The birth of Derek Graham R PLUNTON was registered in South Shields Sept ¼ 1930. The R could be Robertson.

Stan

[jorose]

http://www.freebmd.org.uk
shows a possible marriage in 1896 - Frank Robertson and Eleanor Morgan
http://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/9966/Search-Register-Office-records
 this confirms them as marrying.

I think it's possible Eleanor was married before, given the ages - a possibility would be Eleanor Ann Fraser b. 1862 m. Thomas Morgan in 1883.  It may turn out that Edith was the daughter of one of Eleanor's kids from her first marriage, or of a sister of Edith.  Any Fraser or Morgan girls with them in 1901?

[finta]

Thank you jorose and stanmapstone.  The name Eleanor Morgan (wife to Francis) rings a bell from research some years ago.  After a little hunting it seems she married Joshua Morgan (b Wales) in 1883 and her maiden name was Rutherford.  She lived in Stockton on Tees then.  Joshua must have died/divorced? and Eleanor married my gg uncle Francis in 1896 in South Shields.

The name Lancelot Plunkton (possible husband to adoptee Ethel) made me smile - it sounds so plum-in-mouth, though from a brief search it seems he did not fare well in life, at least for a while.

I think I shall have to order a birth cert or two for Ethel Graham to establish her parenthood.  I'm only really interested if she's blood-related to a Robertson, although the nosey-parker part of me would like to know 

Thank you again,

Finta