Has anybody else came across this or knows if this is often a pattern? In this instance I have a niece that from at least the age of 12, lives with her aunt and uncle who are childless, until her marriage. I have had some young females living with elderly grandmother maybe to look after them. The niece I have just found, parents were alive and well and the remainder of her siblings lived with the parents. Can anyone throw some light, was this acceptable pattern of behavior in the families of the time. The family she came from were not poor so I think they could afford to 'feed' another child. Thanks Debbie Bozkurt Outer Hebrides - Snow all day now rapid melt down yuk!

Can be a number of reasons, Debbie, but yes, it was a practice (how common I don't know). As you say, the aunt and uncle might have wanted help in the house. The parents might have been struggling to house and feed another child. The child might have obtained work which was easier to get to from her aunt & uncle's etc. Sherry On 02/02/2008, Debbie Bozkurt <debbieinscotland@googlemail.com> wrote: > Has anybody else came across this or knows if this is often a pattern? > > In this instance I have a niece that from at least the age of 12, > lives with her aunt and uncle who are childless, until her marriage. I > have had some young females living with elderly grandmother maybe to > look after them. The niece I have just found, parents were alive and > well and the remainder of her siblings lived with the parents.