----- Original Message ----- From: Dennis Flavell To: BRITISHHOMECHILDREN@rootsweb.com Cc: Chesterfield Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 4:03 PM Subject: May FLAVELL born 1881 Adoption My grandfather's sister May FLAVELL born 1881 Walsall, Staffs. was according to Family Lore, "Adopted" and taken to Canada after her mother died soon after childbirth in 1881. Over the years I've searched and searched for 'May' under our Family name without success. I know that official adoption in the UK didn't come about until 1926/27. Were there any, does anyone know of, any 'unofficial' Adoption Lists or Data that exists for that time, say 1881 to about the 1890's. I've not even managed to find which Orphanage / Workhouse that my grandfather Benjamin Job FLAVELL and probably his sister May FLAVELL, were placed in from c the month of May 1881. (between the 81 and 91 Census). My grandfather re-joined his newly re-married father in Derbyshire (Clay Cross area) by the 1891 Census.(In 1881 Census he was lodging along with his father and mother at their ONIONS relations just outside of Nottingham. The 'unofficial' adoption could have taken place anywhere; Canada, USA, England (Walsall-Sedgley-Dudley- Worcestershire-Nottinghamshire - Derbyshire for example). Regards Dennis FLAVELL