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Thread: Adoptions

  1. #1
    Colin Rowledge
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    Question Adoptions

    My Dad was born in 1919.
    His mum was unmarried and lived with her parents along with 1 sister and 2 brothers.
    He was brought up by his mum's parents as 'their' son and was treated by the family as a brother.
    Upon the death of the "old lady" as she was referred to, dad was told he was adopted. His Mum was forbidden by the other family members to divulge any information. All are now deceased and my dad is 89. I'd like to research his Dad.
    How do I go about this?
    Colin:

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by Colin Rowledge View Post
    My Dad was born in 1919
    You haven't mentioned which country.

    Was there a birth certificate and do you have it? If there was one and you haven't got it, getting it is the first step.

    If there's no father stated on the birth certificate, I think the only possibility is to search court records for a maintenance order. Quite frankly in the circumstances you described, I doubt if there will be one.

    I'm afraid I can't think of anything else you could do. Sorry.

  3. #3
    hallsworth47
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    Do you know if this was a legal adoption ? Linda

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    There was no legal adoption in 1919 and to the best of my knowledge there was little advantage, even if there was a mechanism, for formalising an existing informal adoption. And in these circumstances you wouldn't want a chance of the neighbours finding out

  5. #5
    hallsworth47
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    when did adoption become legal thanks Linda

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    Quote Originally Posted by hallsworth47 View Post
    when did adoption become legal
    The legal process of adoption was introduced in 1927 and the GRO Adopted Children Register dates from 1 Jan of that year.

    Let's be clear, there was nothing illegal about adoptions before that date; it's just that there was no legal process involved - they were basically private arrangements.

  7. #7
    hallsworth47
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    PHEW! thank goodness for that
    thanks again Linda

  8. #8
    Colin Rowledge
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    Hi Peter & Linda
    Thanks for the info.
    Here's a bit more info:
    He was born in London, possibly Willesden.
    There were rumours - that the father was an ex German POW released early to play as Goalkeeper for Queens Park Rangers. After the war he would have been repatriated back to Germany.
    One day, I believe it was in September or December 1933, my dad was playing goalkeeper for Willesden County schoolboy's 11. After the game, he overheard his Mum [Florence] talking to ger Brothers [Billy and Bert] that my dad's father would have been proud of his efforts. The chatter ceased when they saw my Dad.
    Colin

  9. #9
    hallsworth47
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    Default FOOTBALL

    Hi Colin
    Whilst I was researching my husbands adoption I found that little bits of things like over heard conversations, rumors etc nearly always had some truth in them ,now I know absolutely nothing about football but may be that information you have, could be a lead for you to follow I don't know how, may be through the football club itself its certainly worth a try. My husband knew nothing at all not even a name and wasnt allowed to ask but somewhere from his childhood he remembered two names , names that could have been his own and the other possibly his mothers after 60 years or more we discovered that those names were indeed his and his mothers, just a very distant memory from childhood but perfectly correct and a vital clue in the search. May be some one here knows a thing or two about football history and could point you in the right direction
    Best Wishes Linda
    ps or even pow records

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    Quote Originally Posted by Colin Rowledge View Post
    He was born in London, possibly Willesden.
    I did ask about the birth certificate and it sounds as if you haven't got it. I repeat that if one exists. you need to get a copy.

    Quote Originally Posted by Colin Rowledge View Post
    There were rumours - that the father was an ex German POW released early to play as Goalkeeper for Queens Park Rangers. After the war he would have been repatriated back to Germany.
    Even if someone came back and confirmed that there was such a footballer, it would tell you nothing about your father's father. Proving that one half of a rumour is true has absolutely no bearing on the other half.

    Sorry to sound a wet blanket but I don't believe in overstating the prospects of success.

    I would advise getting the birth certificate, though.

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