I am attaching an article I wrote for the Historical and Genealogical Society newsletters on some adoption I found in the Warranty Deed books at the court house in Jefferson County. If any one "out there" knows of an adoption web site please forward this information. Also you may find "anything", wills, adoptions, property transactions, election results, etc., in the early warranty deed books. I suggest you use this valuable source in your research. In Jefferson County these records are on microfilm at the Northwest branch of the county library. Other counties you will have to tract them down but they should be at the Recorder of Deed office at all courthouses. They seem to have used a standardized form for much of these documents. This article is two type written pages long but hopefully you will find "something" in it to help with your research. Merry Christmas to all and Happy Hunting! __________________________________________________ Jefferson County, Mo. Adoptions By Dave Hallemann Have you seen the PBS documentary on the “Orphan Trains”? It aired regarding adoptions across the Midwest, of orphan children from New York and other places. Jefferson County could have been in that documentary. While doing deed research for cemetery articles I came across the following “Deeds of Adoption”. I am submitting them for historical reference and to aid persons in research of their genealogy. These references would be almost impossible for researchers to find due to their unusual place of record. Due to the length of the documents I will condense them for this publication. The first “Deed of Adoption” was recorded in Warranty Deed book 61 at page 626. The “Deed” was entered by the Children’s Home Society of Missouri. “Where as a male child Thomas Charles Rudder was born in the County of Jefferson, State of Missouri,…and whereas the Probate Court of Jefferson County for good and sufficient reasons…entered this 22nd Day of August 1906, surrendering and delivering said child to the Children’s Home Society of Missouri…to secure for said child a home in a good family on the most favorable terms possible, including legal adoption, indenture, …and whereas said child has been placed in the home of John Wafler and Mary A. Wafler husband and wife residing in Pevely, Jefferson County,…who have had the said child for 90 days…and desire to adopt him as their own…give said child treatment and Christian education…and change his name to Henry Samuel Wafler…19th day of April 1907.” As can be seen by this first document, the nightmare someone doing genealogical research as to what happened to little Thomas Charles Rudder would encounter. His parents probably died as this was handled through Probate court. The day he was born was left out of the document however there was a place provided for it. The Children’s Home Society of Missouri also entered the second “Deed of Adoption” in Warranty Deed book 65 at page 197. “Whereas a male child, Charles Henry Madole, was born in the County of Adair on or about the 4th day of March A. D. 1893, and whereas Margaret and S. F. Figge of Adair County for good and sufficient reasons…entered on the 29th day of March A. D. 1900 surrender and deliver said child…and whereas the child ahs been placed by the Society in the home of George & Ellen Rasmi(?)sen…who have had the said child for 30 days…and changed his name to Charles Henry Madole Rasmi(?)sen…this 5th day of February A. D. 1909.” The third “Deed of Adoption” didn’t go through an adoption society but direct as recorded in Warranty Deed book 69 at page 159. “This deed made and entered into this 21st day of March 1910, by and between Ray L. Smith and Mattie Smith his wife of the county of Jefferson…parties of the first part and Velma Smith a minor of the county of Jefferson…party of the second part, Witnesseth: That the said parties of the first part in consideration of one dollar to them in hand paid, the receipt is hereby acknowledged, and of the love and affection they bear unto the said Velma Smith and for diverse other considerations them thereunto moving, has adopted…” This could have been a child from a chose relative. The next “Deed of Adoption” recorded in Warranty Deed book 73 at page 290, “…made this 10th day of May 1912…between the New York Foundling Hospital…and Theo Graving and Helen his wife of Maxville…whereas Nellie Clarke female child now of the age of thirteen years and nine months…is put, placed, and indentured…to the said parties as their own child in every respect, until the said Nellie Clarke shall arrive at her legal majority, to live with and be employed by…second parties agree; 1)…to provide suitable and proper board, lodging and medical attention,…2)…teach and educate…ordinary branches of school required by law…including reading, Writing, and the general rules of arithmetic and will bring her up in a moral and correct manner and in the Catholic Faith…3)…parties will not, nor their legal representatives or assigns, assign or transfer this indenture to any other person…4)…that the said parties will report and least once every six months during said term, in writing, to the Board of Managers…whether the child is still living under the card of the parties and if not , where and with whom the child is living, and further state why the child is not living with the parties…5)…that the officers and managers of the (Foundling Hospital) may see said child to ascertain if the parties are caring out all the conditions of this indenture…6)…shall not be construed to render the (Foundling Hospital) responsible for damages of any cause whatever…7)…that in case of breech by parties…of the stipulations, agreements, or covenants…be null and void…8)…that if the child shall have attained her legal majority, and shall not have so been returned before she have attained such age and this agreement be duly cancelled and annulled...or if said child be not legally adopted…be deemed to have elected and to keep, treat and maintain said child as if it were their own…and if the parties should die in testate said child shall inherit and succeed to such share of the property…” The last “Deed of Adoption” was recorded in Warranty Deed book 75 at page 15; "This indenture made this 11th day of May 1912, between the New York Foundling Society and Jos. Haberberger and K. Haberberger his wife of Maxville…whereas Bertha Washbauer female child now the age of fourteen and three months...(same as above)” It appears that the older children’s name was not changed. The practice of entering adoptions into county Warranty Deed book I assume was a common practice employed statewide, as the entry form seems standard. Researchers in other county may find entries there. However I would guess a record was only entered into the county of the adoptive parents. After the Civil War one of the most gripping of New York's social problems was the abandonment of infants in the streets of the city. Poverty, immigration, inadequate housing, and a financial depression were the factors, which made abandonment an ever-present evil. In 1869, it had no longer become an item of news, or even of interest, to find an abandoned infant on the doorsteps of a rich family, in the hallway of a tenement, or at the entrance to a convent. St. Peter's Convent on Barclay Street (New York) was a favorite refuge of distraught mothers and very often the Sisters on opening their door in the morning, would find a tiny waif deposited on the doorstep. So the beginnings of the New York Foundling Hospital. The Children’s Home Society had offices in every state and was undoubtedly established for the same reason as above stated. I offer this glimpse of history to aid researchers; to draw attention to the fact that adoptions were recorded in Warranty Deed books, and with the hope that someone “out there”, with the knowledge, will direct this to an appropriate area on the internet where it may help others to find their family. ©2000 Dave Hallemann This article may be distributed in any form as long as no fee is charged and the author is given credit. Dave Hallemann Sleuth@cat2.com