Genealogy Chat

I'm trying to trace my mother's half sister, who was adopted as a young baby in 1943 when my mother's mother died from pneumonia and complications of the birth. There was some scandal around the birth of the baby (the clue being 'half sister'!), and, although I managed to obtain the little girl's birth certificate (which has at the far right hand side 'Adopted' written on it), I don't know how to procede, or even if I can. I have a few extra clues from extended family - such as that the baby's forename was retained and that the family who'd adopted her may have had some sort of family connection with her. Also a vague memory from someone that the family might have lived in the Hornchurch/Upminster/Romford area 'near a railway line' (!!!)before eventually moving out of London. It is thought that the adoptive parents would have been 100% opposed to letting the child know her true origins (a quarter of which is Romany) and so it's very unlikely that she would be searching for her blood relatives herself. I paid my £30 to have my mother's details put on the Adoption Register, but - as thought - there was no match in someone trying to find my mother. Any other avenues I can explore?

Hi Sarah If you put 'adoption' in the search. It will show you other threads all about adoption problems and solving. many other members have been there,done that and some like myself even got results! I wish you luck Gerri x

Thanks Gerri - u r a star!

Hi, you have the Birth certificate, so now you need to locate the Adoption Files and where they are kept, go onto a website called Adoptionsearchreunion and here you can locate the most likely holder of her Adoption files. I would also contact your own Local Authorities Adoption Team, which is located in the Social Services Department, there is a waiting list, My Local Authority are not charging me for their Intermediary services, but some do, so just check beforehand and you'll know what to expect. I know that when a person is Adopted you are not allowed to make contact yourselves and have to do it through an Intermediary Service. I am currently going through Intermediary to make contact with my halfBrother, it is a slow process, it has taken me 1 year so far, from finding his Birth name to finding the right info and I still haven't made contact yet. Good Luck and PM me if you want any more help or advice. Stella X

Never say never.... 1st I found my half Sister that was adopted at birth 1952 (different father to me) 2nd, He found me on GR...a nephew b1957 that was adopted at 6 weeks old. (really sad story here) He found us just 11 days before his birth Mum died (cancer) Stephen was with me and his birth Mum when she died 2005 :-(( 3rd, My Sisters husband was married before and had a son before they divorced......only last week I found him in my 'Hotmatches' and have since had contact with him. He was only 2 years old at the time and had never seen a photo of him....he has now. Just waiting for a photo of him...cant wait! Gerri x