----- Original Message ----- From: <DianneSlipkid@comcast.net> To: <eng-north-yorks@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 12:57 AM Subject: Re: [ENG-NORTH-YORKS] what is a "nurse child"? > Did a quick search "Nurse Child census listing"--- > This was copied from Rootschat forum 2005: Some of nastiness described > below no doubt happened, but in other reads the mother was able to be > reunited with her child after her cimcumstances changed for the better. > More reading available for you there in Rootschat... > > Often, when transcribing 19th-century censuses, I would come across the > phrase "Nurse Child" but would not know what was meant. > I have discovered that this phrase hides a very tragic story relating to > illegitimate or unwanted children. Before the Elizabethan poorlaw was > changed in the 19th-century care of illegitimate children and their > mothers was haphazard. The 19th-century poor law changed this and placed > the responsibility on the mother. Most times, she was unable to hold a > job and to feed the infant. > One solution to her problem was the baby farmer. This person would for a > small fee, offer to take care of the infant. As soon as the money stopped > coming (or before), the infant would be starved to death or just dumped in > a convenient place. > This procedure continued until the end of the century when horror stories > in the newspapers, compelled the government to act. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > ENG-NORTH-YORKS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message