Genealogy Chat

My cousin's mother Edna has recently died aged 86, why do we not ask questions when the person is alive? We knew Edna's mother died giving birth to her, and her maiden name as appears on her marriage certificate. But cannot find a birth for her at all. How can you access adoption records for 1920, as the only explaination is that she was adopted by her aunt and her name changed. Any help would be apprieciated. thanks.

Adoption as we understand it today, did not begin until 1927, unless the adoption took place after that you are unlikely to find any records. Have you just searched the transcribed index for her birth, if so, you need to go through the actual images as it may not have been transcribed yet, or simply missed. Jennifer

Thanks Jennifer, I have been through the Birth pages within 5 years either side of 1920, and cannot find an Edna Chapham, nor can I find a death for a Chapham around the same time as the birth which seems very strange. I've had a couple of my lot missed on the birth registars, though not in this century, but a death would have to be registered. Weird or what? Jackie

I've been trying to trace my dad's adoptive family (pre 1920) and eventually found them in 1901census under another name - his 'adoptive' mother was down as married (although I cannot find record of marriage) and his adoptive sister's birth was registered in mother's married name (nothing unusual about this), but, later in 1919 his adoptive mother has reverted back to her maiden name (the original name I was given) and marries. Then in 1920 his adoptive sister has also reverted back to the mother's maiden name and marries. Confusing or what?? This still hasn't helped me however to find my 'real' Gran, even though I know her name and roughly when she was born I cannot find a birth record with her name I wish you much better luck than I've had.

I don't know if this will help or not but my mother was born in 1922(her mum was unmarried) and adopted by her birth father and his wife in 1926, on her birth cert (i was lucky i knew her DOB)it had a entry saying see D 1926 with help from here i found it was her other (adoption) re-registration. On her birth cert it gives the name of her mother plus newly married name and an entry on the side saying it was prieviously entered on 28th nov 1922 at entry No blah blah.,just to let you know she is there some where. can you be sure mum died, that seems to be a common reason for adoption, i would advise looking at marriages for her mum 5yrs after Ednas birth who knows she may have just been born out of wedlock....moe

As you know, there was no formal adoption at this time. Children were often raised by family members [as was my mother]. Check the family who raised her.

Is there a father's name given on Edna's marriage cert? Have you considered the possibility that Edna was merely 'told' her mother died giving birth to her, to explain why she was not around? Was Edna brought up by relatives? Jay