Merchant Seamans Orphan Asylum

[Andreab]

Help!
I am researching an ancestor who was in the orphans asylum in Snaresbrook at the 1901 census (her father being a merchant seaman). Did the children residing at the home have to be orphans or could they be taken in if the mother was still alive but couldn't cope etc?
Are there still records available from the asylum?
If a seaman died at sea where would the death be registered? He is recorded on his daughters m/c as a Captain in Merchant Service.
This is the first merchant seaman I have come across so not sure how to proceed. Any help would be most welcome.
Regards
Andrea

[AnnB]

Help!
I am researching an ancestor who was in the orphans asylum in Snaresbrook at the 1901 census (her father being a merchant seaman). Did the children residing at the home have to be orphans or could they be taken in if the mother was still alive but couldn't cope etc?
Are there still records available from the asylum?
Regards
Andrea

The Merchant Seaman's Orphan Asylum, seems to have moved about a bit, but ended up in Berkshire in 1921. I think you might find http://www.berksfhs.org.uk/journal/Dec2002/OrphansAtBearwood.htm interesting, and there does seem to be an address for an Archivist. The only problem is the article was written a few years ago.

I found quite a lot of 'hits' by putting merchant seamen orphan asylum Snaresbrook into Google.

Best wishes
Ann

[Andreab]

Hello Ann
Thanks for that. I have written to the archivist at Bearwood, so fingers crossed we can get some info.
Andrea

[JocelynR]

Hi Andrea: my grandfather, Vernon Atkins, was at the Merchant Seaman's Orphan Asylum when it was in Essex, before it moved to Bearwood - he was there for the 1901 census. His father, a Trinity Pilot, had died but his mother was still alive and stayed at home with Vernon's three siblings. I have a photograph of him in the school uniform. Vernon kept in touch with the school throughout his life, sending donations and visiting on Open Days, so it looks as though it had been a positive experience for him.

Jocelyn

[Andreab]

Hello Jocelyn
Thanks for your post.
It was really encouraging to know that the orphan asylum wasn't perhaps the type of place we had in mind!
We have contacted the archivist at Bearwood, so we're really hoping he can give us some details. All we know is that my husbands ancestor (grandmother) was at Snaresbrook for the 1901 census but we don't know when she went or for how long. It would be great to find out a bit more.
Thanks again.
Andrea