My own theory is that we may find a higher incidence of adoptees in New Orleans families because of the ever-present epidemics that left so many children orphaned. I'm not sure about the other epidemics, but yellow fever (which remained a major problem in our city until the early 20th century) was especially deadly for recent immigrants. The role played by our Catholic heritage is not so clear, as I see it. Because the city was overwhelmingly Catholic, we did have large numbers of nuns - and they operated many of the orphanges and asylums. It could be that this helped more of the orphans to survive long enough to be adopted. But in 19th century New Orleans and elsewhere, the Protestant churches and Jewish communities also operated orphanages for their families. To weigh in on the main topic under discussion, I believe in tracking as many ancestors as I become aware of - whether they are related by blood or otherwise. As others have said, I am pursuing "family history" rather than lineage. I am as interested in the experiences of and influences upon my forebears as in their DNA. Also, I know from personal experience that we can always be startled by previously unsuspected stepfathers or extramarital conceptions. As far as my father and his siblings knew, their grandmother (Caroline Alice Yung) was the daughter of Louisa Drumm and her husband William Yung (Wilhelm Jung). My cousin and I were quite surprised to dig up the fact that she and her brother Albert actually were the children of Henry Voegelin (Heinrich Vögelin) - a man we had never heard of. I am working to find out as much as I can about this "new" great-great-grandfather. But I also consider William Yung to be an important part of our family tree. He married Louisa when her children were toddlers, and almost certainly was the only father they remembered. He raised and cared for them, and imprinted them with his values and customs. He was the grandfather that my grandmother grew up with. I do believe we have an obligation to make clear which relations are "blood" and which are adopted - when we know. I wouldn't want to perpetuate confusion, or defy the "blood" requirements of various heritage societies. But I also would never consider ignoring certain forebears because of these "technicalities." Kathleen in Connecticut, by way of New Orleans -------------- Original message -------------- From: "Jan Dean" <janvdean@earthlink.net> why are there more adoptees in N.O. because of Catholicism? I think I'm missing something here. >