Genealogy Chat

A mother who had a child fostered probably had every right to know where her child was , probably even visiting rights etc

Do these comments also apply when a child was fostered? My dad was fostered in 1935 to a family living only a few miles from where he was born. His birth mother was living at a home for unmarried mothers (friendless girls). The girls all seemed to have moved on from there quite quickly. However his birth mother about 2 years later reappeared at his foster parents house asking for her son back. He was handed over but things did not work out, so was returned back to his foster parents once again. Does anyone know of any foster agencies in S London in the 1930s, or how 'private arrangements' worked in practice? Ta Sam

Thanks everyone for your help. Mum is just gutted that the birth mother died so close to us and we did not know. At least we have now been able to visit the grave yesterday and put some flowers down. The advantage of it being so close is that we can go back when we want. We can't trace the original adoption file for my mother [who was the adopted person] at the moment, though the council is working on trying to locate it. I do have a copy of the Court Transcript in the Court Register and it says consent of the birth mother was produced, but I don't know what format this was in [whether it was a letter or official form], but we can't even find that at the moment. The birth family have been really supportive and we are now working on building bridges and friendships so it is an exciting but emotional and highly draining time. Thanks Claire

Before my parents adopted me they were offered a little boy, but it turned out that his birth mother had a close relative in the village next to ours (3 miles away) who she visited reguarily. Subsequently they were not allowed to adopt him because of this, i guess it was so his birth mother did not see him being pushed around in his buggy by my mum. I agree that it depends on the agencies involved.

Hi Claire, Think it may depend on who the agency was, she may have know your adoptive name, and possibly your address, my birth aunt did, although I was adopted within a mile of BM this is not normal though as it was a private adoption, my BS's where placed 20 -50 miles away but this was throught the Catholic Adoption Society. Normally they would place you a distance away so there would be no repercussions later in life. Sheila

probably very little , although i guess she must have known the surname into which her child was to have been adopted, unless she NEVER saw any of the paper work and the adoptive parents ''filled in'' their half 2nd everytime. I have paper work with both signatures on ( B/M & mum and dad)

Hi Claire, Im no expert either, although I am adopted and have read a lot of info. to my understanding... pre 1975 adoption was relatively annonymous with the reasurance that after having your child adopted there would never be any contact with them and you wouldnt be able to find them and vice versa. So from that point of view it could have been by luck that birth mother ended up living not so far away. However, on the other hand, as it was sociably unacceptable for a young single woman to have a baby, a fair few woman had their baby's at mother and baby centers, sometimes staying there for weeks/months before the baby was due. I also believe, that although it was not common practice, there were instances were women were befriended by older ladies who could not concieve naturally and the birth mother could request that their baby was given to a certain person. I dont know, i'll probably be corrected on that, but its food for thought.

Hi I'm not an expert but I believe it was a total coincidence... as during that time adoptions were made in total secrecy. However, the adoptive parents were ikely to have been given the original name of the child and some of the mother's details. My opinion is (and it is only mine) that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. In 1935 not too many people had cars and transport isn't what it is today... an adopted child may well have stayed in the same area. Cheers Gerry

My mother was born in 1935 in Fulham and placed for adoption. Last weekend, just in time for Mothering Sunday, we found my mum's neice and found out my mum had a sister who is still living. It turns out the birth mother died about 6 miles or so from the town that my mum was adopted in and where I now live. Would the birth mother in 1935 be told the town where the child would be living in once adopted? Is this just a co-incidence?! Thanks Claire

I'm trying to find out what info a birth mother in 1935 would have been given about the adoption of her child.