Thanks Kerry. I have read of this often particularly from Ireland and have wondered if it was the case with my Irish ggm - not the subject of this thread. But nothing indicates that my other family had this problem-lack of money. Very interesting nevertheless and the 'backward' section is of interest although I don't know if this would have been obvious within the first few months of life? The mother was back in Australia within 8 months of the birth. She was pregnant again within another 4 months. I'll wait until perhaps others have a say and then I'll put my theory simple as it is to the list for comment. I appreciate any thoughts as I would like to pursue it as much as I can. D > Denise this would depend what country the mum came from and as to what she > was leaving. > I have read many letters from immigrants back home to > Ireland, who arrived > from Shannagolden, Limerick. > First they would try > and get one healthy one out who could work to send the > money back home > and arrange with (in this case the Landlord, Lord > Mounteagle)to send out > another, usually not the women and children first as > they needed the > workers here to earn the passages over here. Then they would> start > requesting for the cousins to come out. Sometimes they decided against > > the elderly leaving as the journey was too much, some women left their > > children with relatives until they had enough money to send for them. > There> have also been a couple of letter where if the child was what they > termed> "backward" he/she was often left with the grandparents and money > from > Australia sent over for their care.> I suppose this makes sense since > there was no social security here and> no-one to look after them while > they worked, they probably thought it best> to leave a child where they > knew he/she would be okay. > > Kerry > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Denise" <denisem@powerup.com.au> > To: <AUS-VIC-HIGH-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 6:04 PM > Subject: [HC] Query on children of the 1800s > > > Hi all > > I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has discovered that a > child/children of a family was either left behind in the homeland or sent > there/back perhaps. > > I now have some information which leads me to believe that one of mine was > left behind after birth whilst the mother returned to Australia. I do > have > a theory, but don't know if it worth anything. > > So I would be keen to see a discussion on this if any of you have found > this - I would like to hear some other reasons why this would happen. > > Denise > >