Genealogy Chat

Hi Joselyn, I have emailed you.

What a shock for your uncle. I can't imagine what it must be like.
If you are able to get to where the relevant electoral register is kept for the address you have, then you can check out who else was living in that house at the time (remember your uncle's mother will not be listed if under 21, so if she is not listed it may not mean anything). With luck this will give you some family members. If it is an unusual name, you may be lucky enough to find a marriage by trawling through the records on ancestry.
Try asking the Salvation Army for advice, they do assist with this kind of thing and will be sympathetic I am sure.
Jan

Unfortunately we have not had much luck with the agencies who are supposed to help. In fact it was the GRO who said 'of course, you know you are adopted, don't you?' to my uncle when he phoned for a duplicate birth certificate. That was the first he knew of it. The counsellor hasn't helped either, she got cross that another office had already sent my uncle all the relevant papers. That's why I have offered to try and help him myself.

thanks
Jo

My husband as adopted in 1958, he contacted the adoption agency he was adopted through. They gave him a social worker and she helped him, using their records, to find his birth family (both sides), then she made the introductions etc, and was with us at the first meeting. that was 10 years ago and he is very close to his birth mother's family and 1 of his brothers on his birth father's side. The other 2 brothers don't want to know-but they don't have anything much to do with his brother either (long story).
Word of caution though, tread very carefully, not everyone has a happy reunion or reception. Good luck
Carol

New to GR, so please be patient. Fifteen years ago I did quite a bit of family history research and am familiar with census, parish records and General Records Office BMD's. However, I am now trying to track some living relatives for my uncle. He has just found out he was adopted (he is now 65, hell of a shock). We have his mothers name, age, and address at the time of birth, but what;s the best way to proceed? I'm thinking I need to check marriage records to see whether she married after (she didn't marry the baby's father, he was already married, to my grandmother!). But is there anything else anyone can advise?

any thoughts much appreciated.

Jo