As the list seems to be quiet at the moment I thought that I would post a query. The 1911 Census for Whitworth's Building, Rotherham gives the following details George Davis, 27, coal miner, born Normanton Yorkshire Susannah, wife, 24, born Darfield Susannah, daughter, 3, born Thurnscoe Florence May, daughter, 2, born Thurnscoe Susan Smith, Mother in law, married, 63, born Clay Hills Shropshire Emily Turton, adopted daughter, single, 19, born Jump Yorkshire William Hughes, boarder, 61, colliery labourer, born Black Heath, Staffordshire. I am trying to find the connection between Emily Turton and Susan Smith (nee Marston) to see if there is a blood relationship or whether it was just that Susan was a friend who adopted Emily and her sister Florrie (legally or not). In 1901 Emily and Florrie are with their father Thomas Turton, who is a widower. I've checked their mother's maiden name which is Charlesworth. Am a clutching at straws trying to find a connection or is it more likely, as I am thinking, that Susan took in the child of a friend and 'adopted' her. Thank you. June

Hi June, Adoption first became legal in England and Wales in 1926. In Northern Ireland in 1929 and in Scotland in 1930. There were, however, informal arrangements between organisations and sometimes directly between the birth mother and the adoptive parents. ( I looked on "google.co.uk" to check.) There was an adoption in our family around 1914 which understand was within the family, and I had no problem getting certs showing the different surnames. Lorna (Kay) Tokoroa NZ --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com