My grandfather J H Esp, abandoned at birth.

This is also plausable. With all this great information, I'll need to send it to JH Esp's sister in Essex. With the help of her daughters who live nearby, she may be able to throw some more light about how the Head's ended up with a tiny baby on their doorstep.

 

On children's homes.org it says this was a Magdalen Hospital. Click on that and it says it was founded 42 High Street, Chorlton upon Medlock in 1903
Unmarried mothers, first cases only £3 3s hospital fee, 15 places for under 25's.

But there was also Manchester and Salford Rescue and Preventative Society, 15 Rumford Street, Chorlton upon Metlock, another Magdalen Hospital. This opened 1893, with 6 places for "rescue and preventative cases, temporarily" with no age limit

Perhaps if JHE was born in Rumford Street, and Lucy was also born in Chorlton, but christened in Shropshire, then Nellie would have had to give John up to go in the high street home to pretend it was her first baby?

 

Scrap that!
On the census for Nellie in 1901 the address is 43 Webster Street, parish of Greenhays St Clement, Chorlton upon Metlock district. The childrens home website says this is Mrs Macalpine's Maternity Home, Hope House, 23 later 43 Webster Street, Greenheys, Manchester. Opened 1890, first maternity cases only, of previous good character, payment where possible, 10 places.

The National Archives says there is something administrative in their records, although the address is different- Belfield Lodge, Willow Bank. Mrs Macalpine was there from 1926 and by then it had 55 places so perhaps it moved again.

But as it's first time mothers only, she still could have had to give up JHE to get in another home to have Lucy

 

Hi Chrissie... I have not gone the DNA route myself, but I do know they also can link you to possible cousins... ( if they are registered in the data base). That was why I suggested it... maybe you could find who he really was from that! Always a possibility if you feel inclined.
If I had some extra pennies I just might try it... I have an gr.grandmother whose father is unknown, but I kind of wonder if it may be one of 2 men that her mother worked with on a large estate!

 

Hello Annabel. Thank you once again for all the infomation. I really appreciate it. In such a desperate situation, that could have happened. I'll have to find out what happened to Nellie. This is like a jig saw puzzle. The main piece is finding out how or where she may have known the heads.

 

Hi Sue. I am going to get in touch with my Aunty Joan (JHE's daughter) who lives in Essex and see what she thinks about this idea. I'll also be talking to my Dad this afternoon and update him with all the fantastic responses I have received. What a brilliant team everyone is!

 

Did you see the registration on FreeBMD of John Esp March 1902 at Stourbridge? Or is he the one in post #1.

 

I think he is the other one, Sue (in post #1)

 

OK
I do think though that the only contender is Nellie.
She is on the 1881 as Millie btw. Dad was a grocer's assistant then and in 1901 a shopkeeper at Brockton.
I was checking to see if the Heads and Esps lived near each other.
I was also wondering if the bible John H had was given to him when he was baptised. Either by the babies home or privately. Did these Church run homes have the babies baptised before handing them over for adoption?

 

Me too.

I do wonder though about the bible left with the baby which had J H Esp, if only initials for his first names perhaps the Head's chose John Henry, but they could have stood for other names???

 

Yes. My thoughts too. He could be James Harold or even Joseph ??

 

Perhaps she didn't know them but was referred to them as a safe place for her child's care. perhaps she even meant to reclaim him later. Perhaps she had no say in it at all.

 

Hi Sue. No, I missed that one. My goodness, what a lot of John Esps about! I've been busy writing letters to my Dad's sister and looking up all the information I have been supplied with. My brain is crashing due to infor overload. Thank you for this thread. In the night, I was working on dates. George Head would have been born in 1856 according to his age (87) quoted in the Coventry newspaper in 1939 and Fanny would have been born in 1862 having died at the age of 77. I am trying to establish if they are the same Heads quoted as being in Biddulph, Shropshire in the 1901 Census. Also trying to find out where George died. He lived to be over 100.
Regards, Chrissie

 

Hi there. Until I read all the messages, I never thought to ask my Dad whether the whole name had been written or just the initials. That's also another question to ask my aunty and Dad. I've nearly finished writing a letter to her.
Regards, Chrissie

 

Hi. I agree too. I feel as though we're bringing all these people back to life. At least in today's world our generation is lucky to have the ability to put their records straight ...or not!

 

Hi again. I am having difficulty in finding out where George Head lived in the 1901 Census. He is not the one who is listed as living in Biddulph. He was definately born in Claverley, Shropshire in 1856. The birth date also matches the time when JH Esp was listed as a visitor in the 1911 Census and ties in with his age that was quoted in the Coventry newspaper 1939. Fanny would have been born in1862. Where did he live with Fanny I wonder? My grandfather said he remembers they moved quite a few times.
Chrissie

 

If it is not to late to add to your letter - when was the bible published? Was it new for JH Esp or an older one?

 

In 1911 he was 50 which would make him born about 1861, and Fanny was 45 which would make her born about 1866

In 1891 there is a George Head born 1863 Claverley, game keeper, and Fanny M Head born 1864 Chelmarsh, Shropshire living at Sylehouse, Claverley

In 1901 there is George Head born 1861 in what is transcribed as Farweal, Shropshire but looks like Tarnial to me although I can't find a likely place. He is a game keeper, with Annie Head born 1863 Chelmarsh. At Woodhouse Farm, Biddulph. Could this be them?

 

I thought maybe Farmcote? - and they'd forgotten to cross the 't'. Near Bridgnorth, so a bit of a hike from Claverley.