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  1. #1
    Starting to feel at home
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    West Midlands
    Posts
    47

    Default Fascinating unofficial adoption

    On my wife's side of the family, we have a Thomas Yates who was born when his mother (Sarah) was approximately 14 years old. I have located the baptism records where the father is not named and the baptism records that Thomas looked about 2 years old.

    Sarah went on to marry a Thomas Shaw who was living with them in the 1841 census when Thomas Yates would have been about 11 years old.

    Thomas Yates from that point on adopted the surname Shaw, putting Thomas Shaw as his father on his marriage certificate and also calling his first born Thomas Shaw. This has led to 3 generations of my wife's family having the surname Shaw even though genetically there would be no link with the Shaw family.....a story that gives me warm glow inside to know that that Thomas Shaw must have made an amazing impression on this young man to make him give up his family name in pursuit of the name of his adoptive father. A story I just felt I had to share

  2. #2

    Default

    Thank you, saddlers, for sharing. So lovely to read heartening stories.
    Alma

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