Genealogy Chat

Hi Vicky, Thanks for your reply. Sorry it's taken me so long to respond but I got home from work to find my children making their very own family tree! (a tree with leaves made up of hand prints!) I had to contribute my paint covered hand prints to it too and I have to say it is very effective!! Maybe something other GC users could do with children or grandchildren - it's a fun way of making sense of chronology and size! Enough of the art lesson! I'm pleased you found a half sister through Friends. I did too - I haven't mentioned that before. She was actually brought up by our mother and is still very close - but sadly, as with you, mum is also not impressed with the fact I have found her. Have started what I hope will be a very good relationship with my sister though and thats got to be good hasn't it. I think I may have had some luck today with social services in Birkenhead. The lady I spoke to was very nice and thought it was possible that we could find out more through their records. She's going to check and get back to me next week so fingers crossed! Thaks again to everyone for their tips - keep them coming please! Tony

I found my half sister through the friends reunited site! She was registerd and we have now met up and keep in touch regularly. have you tried that as you have a surname for one of them? I would give a word of warning though, although my sister and I get along fantasitic, the relationship with my mum and her is not a bed of roses and can be very upsetting. Also the 1837 site might help with the names if your mum was not married then they would have been registerd under her maiden name (i think, am i correct people?)

Lynda, off to bed also! Thanks for all your help. Will see how things go with a fresh head tomorrow! Tony

Tony, Not sure of the regulations then, but sure it would have been documented. It really is worth going to the local authority, I bet you'll be amazed at how quickly they could find your sisters for you, although as I said they would have to give there consent. It would really be worth giving it a go. I have fostered and now work with fostered children so anything your stuck on I may be able to find out for you. Your welcome to contact me by email. Off to bed now, but more than happy to help in the day. Lynda

Lynda, I hope I don't need an exact date either!!! I know roughly (within a year) when the older sister was born. And I know they were taken into care when I was 2 in around 1957. However, I never lived with the family and there is no reason why they would know about me. No one in the family seems to. I was a closely guarded secret! I was born in London and all the rest of the family, siblings and uncles etc were born up in Birkenhead area. Have found one uncle who has been great but even he didn't know about me and he was 15 when I was born! Ho Hum!!! Tony

Tony When you are taken into care now all details are taken down so they could search on your mothers name, by the way how long ago were they taken into care? Lynda

Thanks again Lynda. I suppose I'm just not convinced they'll give me any help with out their surnames. I can give their mothers details and their christian names but beyond that I get stuck! Tony

Usually if your taken into care it's the local authority where you are living who deal with it. It could then go to another authority or private agency, but the original one would have records of it, no matter how long they were in their care. If you have the original authority it started with it SHOULD be fairly simple to find out where they went, thats of course they want to be traced and they are adults. Hope you find them. Lynda

Lynda, Thanks. I know where they were living (family home) when they were taken into care, but does that necessarily mean they would have been dealt with by that authority? I don't know if I have enough information on them to make it practicle - but there's no harm in trying. I'll think about that one- thanks. Tony

If you get in touch with the Social services of the area they were taken into care, they will be able to help you. If your sure of the area be persistant don't take no for an answer.

This directly links to my earlier messages (in a round-about way!) Would anyone know the best way to start to track down my half sisters (on my mothers side) who both had different fathers and were taken into care within 10 years of their births? Just thought I'd ask. Oh and by the way I only know one of their surnames! Thanks Tony & Eleanor