Genealogy Chat

Thanks again for everyone's replies.

I thought I'd better just close this down by letting you know where I've got to.

As I said in my original post the birth certificate did provide an address for the cousin's mother. I found a website for the parish magazine for the village, and emailed them with some basic details to see if they could help with information about the address.

I also found online a newsletter for a local club, with the name address and phone number(!!!) of someone living at the address given in the birth certificate. I'd passed these contact details back to the cousin suggesting she might like to write to them.

This morning I received a reply from the editor of the parish magazine. They had spoken with the person who was named as the cousin's mother, and with her sister, who was also the person now living at that address, and they have "issued a statement" denying any association with the cousin, although one or two other comments made still correlate with the information that I had, but hadn't given them.

So it seems possible to me that this is the mother, but she doesn't want to know!

So, thanks again for your help but I think I'll let this one lay now.

David

Just out of interest - found this by googling


THE ELECTORAL ROLLS
OF THE
EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE
1834

.........................."Electoral Rolls began in 1832, following the passing of Earl Grey's Reform Act "

Thanks to all who have replied here and via direct messages.

Looked on Ancestry at possible births for mother - there's 17 of them in England during the period 1916 - 1938, but at the moment I don't really have any info which would allow me to match one of them to my cousin's mother even if I did have the mother's birth certificate. There's no certainty that the mother originated from Kent even though the daughter was born there.

The hospital no longer exists, but I've given the cousin contact details for both the local NHS Trust and Social Services office. Also the details provided by someone about the ONS dept that is involved with adoption records that someone kindly gave me. I've suggested that she contact them, as they will probably only deal directly with her and not a third party.

I have also found (via Google) the name, address and phone number of someone living at the address given in the birth cert, although I don't think it's a farm any longer (ain't google maps wonderful). The details appeared in a local fox hunting group's newsletter published on their website - I wonder if the person realises just how public their details have become!!

I will continue to follw up the other suggestions.

Again, many thanks.
David

PS will be out of action for a bit, so excuse any lack of replies.
Jan

I would advise contacting social service as her first port of call - they might well be able to help, or if not can guide her.

Still worth pursuing the electoral register as you might find others with the same surname, and of course she might have been over 21. Are you just assuming the farm was her workplace? it could have been her home after all, or that of relatives.

You can order any birth cert from the GRO - almost too easy isn't it!

Have you tied looking for her name in other people's trees just in case? or is it too common? If you think it worthwhile, send her details such as they are to me via PM (click on my name) and I'll have a look on Ancestry for a possible birth.

Also, 1955 isn't that long ago (well, not too me!) Have you tried writing to the address, you never know.

jan

I'd forgotten that the electoral role only lists people of voting age, doh!

The mothers age is not recorded on the birth cert of her daughter, and although the daughter is guessing that she would have been quite young there's no evidence to support this.

Since the address details given for the mother on her daughters birth cert is Farm Groom of xxxxx, yyyyy, West Ashford it seems likely that she was not living at home, (sorry about the xxxx stuff, it's all a bit sensitive at the moment so I don't want to reveal too much personal info on an open forum).

The cousin has no idea of the adoption agency, just the hospital at which she was born (it's on the birth cert). Any ideas how we might find this out? There seems to be a distinct lack of family papers to be had.

Looking at what's said on a couple of adoption research related web sites ("births pre 1975 you have to apply for a birth cert and have an interview") I'm quite surprised that I was able to find the birth index on Ancestry and just order the certificate from the GRO.

David

Electoral registers started at the beginning of the 20th century I believe, but useful ones are from 1919 onwards as by then most women over 30 and men over 21 could vote.
I assume you are thinking of the 1951 electoral register. Might be useful if the people there are her family, and remember she will only be recorded if over 21.
Does your wife's cousin know which agency arranged the adoption, such as social services? Might be worth asking their advice.
If her mother's name is unusual you might try for a birth. Is her age recorded?
Jan

Can anyone tell me when the electoral role started in England, and also when adoptions had to be registered?

A cousin of my wife, who was adopted at birth in 1951 has asked me to help in trying to trace her (at the time unmarried) mum. I now have the cousin's birth cert, with the date and place of birth, the mother's address looks to be her place of work - a farm in Kent. No father's name is shown, and there is a note on the birth cert to the effect that the cousin was adopted.

Nothing else is known about the mother, age, place of origin, parents etc. so not sure where else to start on this one. Any ideas gratefully received!

David