Arthur, John, and Loretta Lehman, children of John and Loretta Lehman, were sent to live in orphanages in Newark in the early 1900's. On John and Loretta's marriage certificate I found they were both born in Newark in 1873, and married there in 1893. The children were born 1893, 1895, and 1898. The 1900 census shows them living, still in Newark. In the 1902-03 Newark city directory John is listed as a laborer, but in the 1903-1904 city directory he does not appear. The NJ death indexes do not list John or Matilda for any year 1900-1910. Actually, there were entries for each of their names, but the data on the certificate did not correspond, even by a long stretch, to either of them. I hesitate to try the NY death index, because the info avail is so limited I have a feeling I'll have to spend $11.00 x many John Lehmans, only to find that they are not the right ones. I have tracked Matilda's family (LIMBURG with many spelling variations)- she had 2 brothers and 4 sisters who could have taken the children but didn't, and her mother shows up in Newark until 1918 when she goes to Rochester, NY. Ironically, this is only about 45 min. from where her "orphaned" grand-daughter married and was having her first child that same year. They never knew of each other. I really want to know how and where (and when) John and Matilda died. Were there any flu outbreaks in 1902-03, or some major catastrophe in Newark that might have left the children without their parents? The oral history from the family says that Lauretta was one or two when she went into the orphanage, but since they are still in the 1900 census I am guessing it took place pretty soon after that. There are no wills, family documents, etc pertaining to this family. Loretta only knew her parents names and that she had a brother John and one other brother. She had been told that they were placed in a different orphanage than the one she was in. I would really appreciate any insight anyone might have to offer- I'm stuck here. Loretta's daughter is 75 now (my husband's grandmother), and it still really bothers her to not know why her mother grew up in an orphanage. Thank you in advance- I know there must be someone out there with a great suggestion that will help me find the answer... Laura