Genealogy Chat

Apologies for the delay in getting back to thank you for your help - my computer has been a bit under the weather.

Thank you so much; good of you to take the time to put my mind at rest!!

Shelagh

"A nursechild was a standard term for an infant foster child. It is not necessarily the case that a nursechild was being nursed (breastfed) by a woman in the same household. The nursechild may have been fostered out for a number of reasons, such as the loss of one or both parents, or the parents being unable to look after the child due to reduced circumstances."

Found this for you

Often, when transcribing 19th-century censuses, I would come across the phrase "Nurse Child" but would not know what was meant.

I have discovered that this phrase hides a very tragic story relating to illegitimate or unwanted children. Before the Elizabethan poorlaw was changed in the 19th-century care of illegitimate children and their mothers was haphazard. The 19th-century poor law changed this and placed the responsibility on the mother. Most times, she was unable to hold a job and to feed the infant.

One solution to her problem was the baby farmer. This person would for a small fee, offer to take care of the infant. As soon as the money stopped coming (or before), the infant would be starved to death or just dumped in a convenient place.

This procedure continued until the end of the century when horror stories in the newspapers, compelled the government to act.

I have been doing some research/transcribing, and on two occasions have come across the description 'nurse child' in the relationship column of the census. Anyone have any idea what that means please?