I think it must mean that. My Grandmother was adopted in 1902, & we have a document drawn up by a solicitor stating the roles of each party .. who paid for what, what access her biological father could have (her mother had died), etc. She was known in the adoptive family by a new name, but when she came to marry, she used her birth name .. presumably because that was her 'legal' name. Hilary ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Daniell" < > Hi Polly, > What does "legal" adoption mean? The issue of a new birth > certificate with the new adopted name and secrecy as to real parent(s)? > David > On 13 Apr 2008, at 21:31, Polly Rubery wrote: >> Hi Irene >> >> I can't help with Fostering Certificates, but legal adoption came >> into being >> in 1927 not 1947. >> Polly >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Irene Coutts" <>> >> >> >> I know adoptions weren't legal until 1947 but can anyone tell me about >> Fostering Certificates. I have heard of one being issued in the >> 1920's in >> Wales. >> Irene

I am fascinated by this discussion. One of my grandfather's sisters was said to have been "adopted" on the death of his mother in 1905 of septicaemia following a miscarriage. The story is that the nurse took her. She was seen in Hereford as a young girl, working at Woolworths I think. However, I can find no record for her existence. I believe that she was born Gertrude RICKARDS c 1904 either in Ludlow or Hereford and that her adoptive family was something like MAYO. One of her sisters managed to trace her to Coventry at the beginning of WW2 but then the trail went cold. Obviously she may have been killed in the Blitz, but again I can find no documentation to confirm this having no evidence as to the name she was known by. I am interested that around the same period you have a legal document regarding an adoption and access rights. I have heard that Gertrude's birth family were denied contact with her but since they are now all dead I am unable to confirm this. Where might I look for any documents concerning Gertrude? Has anyone any ideas to help us trace what happened to her? Rosemary -----Original Message----- From: eng-hereford-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:eng-hereford-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Hilary Sent: 13 April 2008 11:26 To: eng-hereford@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [HEF] FOSTERING I think it must mean that. My Grandmother was adopted in 1902, & we have a document drawn up by a solicitor stating the roles of each party .. who paid for what, what access her biological father could have (her mother had died), etc. She was known in the adoptive family by a new name, but when she came to marry, she used her birth name .. presumably because that was her 'legal' name. Hilary ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Daniell" < > Hi Polly, > What does "legal" adoption mean? The issue of a new birth > certificate with the new adopted name and secrecy as to real parent(s)? > David > On 13 Apr 2008, at 21:31, Polly Rubery wrote: >> Hi Irene >> >> I can't help with Fostering Certificates, but legal adoption came >> into being >> in 1927 not 1947. >> Polly >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Irene Coutts" <>> >> >> >> I know adoptions weren't legal until 1947 but can anyone tell me about >> Fostering Certificates. I have heard of one being issued in the >> 1920's in >> Wales. >> Irene ---- ENG-HEREFORD Mailing List ---- A genealogy and local history list covering the County of Hereford ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ENG-HEREFORD-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message