My maternal grandmother's origins

[Joby86]

Hi folks,
I am trying to find out who my grandmother's biological parents were. My grandmother was born in Birmingham, UK 1934 with the surname, SMITH and was as far as I know, illegitimate and was adopted by a family by the name of PALMER in 1936 in Staffordshire, UK and grew up in Staffordshire. I have got a copy of her adoption certificate, my wife is on ancestry site and I search many forums etc in the hope of getting somewhere but struggling..... can anyone please help me??!! Lol

[fayl]

Had you considered taking a DNA test?

Fay

[PaulineJ]

Have you been able to obtain the original birth certificate.?

https://www.gov.uk/adoption-records

[Joby86]

DNA is the only possible next step I think and no, I am not exactly sure what cert to get due to the surname SMITH from Birmingham and maybe a pointless exercise but again, my knowledge is very poor on theses things and have only began researching recently. I looked on an ancestry site but it made my head a little sore! lol

[CaroleW]

You say “was illegitimate as far as I know”

Is your grandmother deceased?  If so - what was her exact birth date?  If she died after 1969 it will be on her death cert.

What was her christian name?

[Joby86]

Her birth date is 14/02/1934 in Birmingham as far as I know and she died 08/02/2004. She was adopted in 1936 and had the surname, PALMER following that but I believe she was born FREDA SMITH but how true I do not know. There is a listing on GRO for a Freda Smith born Birmingham M quarter 1934, volume 06D, page 240 but that is where I'm currently at

[fayl]

The birth registration you refer to for Freda Smith gives mothers maiden name of Smith, so possibly mother unmarried.

It might be worthwhile sending for a copy of that certificate which you can order from the GRO site and request a PDF copy for £7 which they will send you a link to your e mail address  in order to view it.

What information do you have on adoption certificate.

Fay

[Joby86]

Not a lot really, just the date of the adoption, the name and address of the adoptive parents and the court that dealt with it but the place is no longer there

[CaroleW]

She is with her adoptive parents on the 1939 register & somebody has notified corrections to the entry who may have an interest in the family.  Have you seen the 1939 entry?