This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: bbffrrpp Surnames: Roy, Smith Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.unknown/6962.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi Thomas. I have the same type of genealogy problem. My grandmother was reportedly a foundling in Boston in Feb. 1889, and the "family story" goes that the nurses gave her the name, Daisy WATROUS, at the hospital. In Mar. 1892, she was adopted by an older couple, and they changed her name to Mary Anna Clark DEXTER (for the adoptive mother's maiden name). Because 100 years had passed, I was able to apply to have her Adoption File opened ~5 yrs. ago. Unfortunately, there were only 3 papers in the file and very little information - which was mostly "lies." But, it did confirm the name change. There is a book of "Name Changes for Middlesex County up to 1892," and my grandmother's name is in it. Perhaps someone can say whether there is a similar book for Essex County. My suggestion for this morning is to try to find the Adoption Record - probably in Essex County, MA. Or, if you know where the "foundling home" was located, you could try to find out more about that. (My grandmother was reportedly taken to a hospital when they "found" her, and then taken to what we would call a "foster home" where she would have been called a "foster child." (MA has "NO" records on this.) I think if you concentrate on a possible birth in 1878 in Essex County, and post queries about that, you might receive more hints. Betty (near Lowell, MA) (Note: For my grandmother, I believe that the Adoptive couple was her maternal grandparents (from CT). My "educated guess" is that their married daughter in CT had a pregnancy outside of her marriage in the "summer of 1888.) (Your Catherine SMITH / Clara ROY was born ~10 yrs. before that, so you should be able to get her Adoption File opened - IF she was formally adopted.) Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.