Genealogy Chat

Hi i was wondering my grandma has always told us that she was adopted. I have a copy of her birth certificate but is there anywhere that i can search to find her adpotion records? I have a sneaky feeling it wasn't done the proper way and would just like to double check, and if there is a certificate it might answer a few questions. Many thanks Jen

You need Jess to answer this question, but I don't think you could access your grandma's adoption records, even if it was an official adoption. If it wasn't then there probably wouldn't be any records to access. Kath. x

hi-di-hi! You say you have her birth cert - presume you mean the one for the name in which she was born...? Did her name change? maybe she was simply raised by a relative. jess

Didn't the law change since Dec'05 and can family members now obtain help and assistance from social services in the UK to trace birth relatives? Jess will know or you can try googling for more information. Good luck! Claire

If your gran was 'adopted' pre 1927 there wasn't a 'proper way' as that was the year legal adoption started. Before that children were really only fostered rather than legally adopted and so there won't be adoption papers as such. Often children were taken in informally by family members. Other times local workhouse, or a charity like Barnardoes would organise things in which case there may be records of agreements made.

Sorry had to disapear for a little while. Yes i have her original birth certificate with her birth mother but no father at the moment i only have a copy as i have sent it back as can't read it. By what i have heard she was apoted either by her mothers sister or her mothers mother. She was born 1928 so if it was done properly then there should be paper work shouldn't there? Or do you think it was a sort of i'll look after her for you and bring her up without having any paper work done. Oh and her name didn't change which makes me believe even more that she was looked after by family a member. I have noticed though that she was born with Varker as a middle name and she has dropped it. Thanks Jen

So, it sounds as though she was illig, and given to perhaps an older childless ( or not) sister , or raised by Gran , as her mother , for the sake of respectabilty . i very much doubt there will be any records anywhere. Do you have any idea where the middle name came from?

I have no idea where Varker came from, i was thinking it might have something to do with either her mums dad or even her dad. Jen

If your gran was legally adopted then she would be on the Adopted Children Register... in her adoptive name. You can view the index to the ACR at the Family Records Centre in London. I would imagine the name Varker would be a family name... it's quite common (sorry don't mean to call your gran common :-) to do that in many areas of the country. My husband has the worst middle name (mother's maiden name) and my brother has a one name running through all the male children down the line. Makes it an easier life for genealogist.