Genealogy Chat

Lou, I found the parents of mine by the simple process of trawling through the neighbours on the census and they were geographically next door, very young and both working which kind of explained it. Also this was Derby and Mum was from London so I guess she had no-one to help her except that nice lady next door.

One of my ancestors has a nurse child aged 2 with them on the 1871 census. I've followed her through all the census until her marriage in 1897 and on her marriage certificate she gives my ancestor as her father! I still have no idea where she came from as it's a common surname so several possible families in the area to choose from with regards to her natural parentage. Or its possible that she was illegitimate and her mother died either during childbirth or shortly afterwards which is why she was taken in by my ancestors Lou

My great grandfather was a nurse-child aged 1 in 1871 with a different surname to those he lived with: his real parents lived next door. In 1881 he was still there as 'adopted son' with new surname; in 1891 he was still 'adopted son' and in 1901 he was just 'son'. His 'adoptive' parents had children of their own and strangest of all his real parents went on to have 8 more children all of whom they kept! So my mother's maiden name was actually that of the adoptive parents and not her real one!

Sorry Jane a nurse child is a foster child.You are talking about a wet nurse.My grandmother was a foster child age 1 10 years later she is termed a lodger and still with the same family.Still there till she married Im thinking from her address.

Louise, My daughter teaches Nannies and we were coincidentaly discussing this today, . Sometimes the mother would be ill after the birth or for some reason could not feed the baby. The child would then be 'farmed' out to a wet Nurse.(Or one would be employed in the home) She would probably have had a child herself and for many reasons would offer her services. She may have lost her own child.had fed her own child for a year or so and after weaning still had milk. Hope this is of interest Jane

Thank you. In this case it looks like the parents separated at about this time and I guess the mother had to work and couldn't look after a young child. Rather oddly though, the husband kept 3 young sons with him and was living with them and his mother. I guess he didn't want his daughter which makes me wonder who the father was!!!! Louise

This has cropped up before. Nurse children were children being looked after by other families. Not sure why. nell

I've found a 3 year old on the 1881 census who is described as 'nurse child' in the relationship box. Both her parents are alive and living elsewhere. The couple she is living with do not appear to be any relation to the family. In 1891 she is living with her mother. Any ideas on this? It's sure got me baffled. Thanks, Louise