Hi Debbie Thanks for that - poor little kids - how did they survive? It must have been hell in those days in spite of the caring few. The children had the heartbrek of parental loss and the kindness couldn't console them. I'm sad now - I was a foster mum which gives me a little more understanding, Thanks Jean n a message dated 04/03/2008 21:09:27 GMT Standard Time, ifm@whidbey.net writes: Hi Jean, I found this good explanation of a nurse child given on RootsWeb by someone: Often, when transcribing 19th-century censuses, I would come across the phrase "Nurse Child" but would not know what was meant. I have discovered that this phrase hides a very tragic story relating to illegitimate or unwanted children. Before the Elizabethan poor law was changed in the 19th-century care of illegitimate children and their mothers was haphazard. The 19th-century poor law changed this and placed the responsibility on the mother. Most times, she was unable to hold a job and to feed the infant. One solution to her problem was the baby farmer. This person would for a small fee, offer to take care of the infant. As soon as the money stopped coming (or before), the infant would be starved to death or just dumped in a convenient place. This procedure continued until the end of the century when horror stories in the newspapers, compelled the government to act. Poor little children! Debbie