I may have an adoption - but how to prove it?

Discussion in 'Adoption Pre 1924' started by The Artful Dodger, May 16, 2014.

  1. The Artful Dodger

    The Artful Dodger R.I.P.

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    A Selena Golly age 12 is in the 1841 census with my 3X Great-grandparents William and Mary and several siblings - H0107, Piece 145, Book 2, Folio 36, Page 14. Gorran, Cornwall. She is still there in 1851 - but with no siblings - H0107, Piece 1908, Folio 167, Page 8 - but has who I presume [not yet confirmed] is her daughter - Rebecca age 4.

    In March 1852, Selena dies and is buried in Gorran 14 March 1852.

    In the 1861 census William and Mary have another Grand-daughter living with them aged 9 - RG9, Piece 1550, Folio 134, Page 3. This little girl's birth was registered April 1852 - vol.5c page 153. I believe this was also Selena's child and she [Selena] died in childbirth.

    Looking for potential baptisms the only one that fits is - Selena Barker Golly in Gorran, 24 November 1833. She was born 4 years earlier on 27 June 1829 - FHL Film #'s 916938 & 916971. The middle name BARKER is, I suspect, the name of the mother, but as I can't find a baptism for a Selena Barker [other than this one] my question is - why would William and Mary include it in the baptism?
     
  2. Findem

    Findem The Fearless One. Rest in Peace.

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    A thought is, limited by what info you've know/provided, could Selina be illegitimate and the name Barker be the father's surname?

    I think you're going to need the birth certificate for this one Colin.
     
  3. The Artful Dodger

    The Artful Dodger R.I.P.

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    They aren't available - Selena was born - based upon the baptism - 27 June 1829. She was 23 years old in 1852.

    My initial thought was William had a 'fling' with a lady named Barker - but why include it in the name she was baptised?
     
  4. Findem

    Findem The Fearless One. Rest in Peace.

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    Of course, (der!) sorry Colin, I forgot to do the maths and so missed that, I have only 'been up' a very short while and I think most, if not all of my brain, has yet to awaken.
     
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  5. The Artful Dodger

    The Artful Dodger R.I.P.

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    Same happens here, as well
     
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  6. Ma-dotcom

    Ma-dotcom A Bonza Little Digger!

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    Colin, these may be your above mentioned G'dtrs of the Golly family.

    1861 RG 9; Piece: 1550; Folio: 134; Page: 3
    Rebecca Golly
    Age: 15
    Estimated Birth Year: 1846
    Relation: Daughter
    Father's Name: William Henry Golly
    Mother's name: Ann Golly
    Gender: Female
    Where born: Gorran, Cornwall, England
    guessing Wm Hny is a son of William & Mary?
    ...................
    1851 HO107; Piece: 1908; Folio: 167; Page: 8;
    Rebecca Golly
    Age: 4
    Estimated Birth Year: abt 1847
    Relation: Granddaughter
    Gender: Female
    Where born: Gorran, Cornwall, England
    ...................
    Marriages Jun 1870 -FreeBMD
    Burley William Henry St Austell 5c-205
    Golly Christiana St Austell 5c-205
    .....................
    1871
    RG10; Piece: 2269; Folio: 63; Page: 10
    Christiana Burleigh
    [Christiana Burley] Age: 19
    Estimated Birth Year: abt 1852
    Wife of Henry Burleigh
    Where born: Gorran, Cornwall, England
    Town: Tregavarras
    ..........................
    FreeBMD keeps having hissies & showing me:

     
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  7. The Artful Dodger

    The Artful Dodger R.I.P.

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    Hi Wendy, you are so-o-o- right, Rebecca may be William Henry's daughter, but that is another issue I have to face later. William Henry will be another challenge.

    You have saved me a search with the the marriage of Christiana and I thank you.

    This I think is going to be an interesting branch of my family.
     
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  8. Ma-dotcom

    Ma-dotcom A Bonza Little Digger!

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    So far they've all been interesting Colin.
     
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  9. looby

    looby Well-Known Member

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    The question of middle names has cropped up before on other threads and it’s been noted that they don’t necessarily have anything to do with the family. So you need to take into account that a family link doesn’t exist.
     
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  10. The Artful Dodger

    The Artful Dodger R.I.P.

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    Having read all the replies above and another recent thread on early adoptions, I am satisfied that Selina was not their biological offspring and was 'placed' with the Golly family and then baptised.

    I have more to post on this matter but F.A, Cup kickoff is now about to start
     
  11. Huncamunca

    Huncamunca The Knowledgeable One

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    I am at a loss to see how you have come to that conclusion based only on Selina having an unusual middle name. As looby has said so wisely in post no. 9, there can be many reasons for choice of names. Just because you haven't come across a family member called Barker doesn't mean the name wasn't significant to William and his wife.

    There is a somewhat similar situation in my family. I have an ancestor called Charles Chicken Newrick. I have not been able to find any Chickens in the family tree, but that doesn't make me doubt his parentage. His parents may have been honouring a godparent, for example: though both his parents were from East Anglia, he was born in the north-east, where Chicken is found as a surname.

    Unless there is documentary or DNA evidence that Selina wasn't related to William and Mary, my position would be to say you just can't tell. All too often in research I'm afraid that's the bitter truth. If you want to write a historical novel you can say whatever you like, but if you are trying to establish FACTS then you need EVIDENCE.

    Oh dear, getting off my soapbox now . . .
     
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  12. looby

    looby Well-Known Member

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    I was about to say the same, whilst scratching my head wondering how Colin had reached that conclusion. It was the Chicken name I remembered.
     
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  13. The Artful Dodger

    The Artful Dodger R.I.P.

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    OK ladies - time out - half time - and I note your comments.

    I believe I can explain my reasons but as you say I need evidence, so I'm going to attempt to get it.
     
  14. Daft Bat

    Daft Bat Administrator. Chief cook & bottle washer! Staff Member

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    Bear in mind W S Gilbert. ;)
     
  15. The Artful Dodger

    The Artful Dodger R.I.P.

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    And now I think I have the evidence. I will now proceed to the Corner and sit there holding a card with "D" on it.
     
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  16. Stafford

    Stafford Well-Known Member

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    Hugh Wallis's Index of Middle Names lists 19 individuals baptised in Cornwall with middle name Barker. I would be exploring these individuals to see if there is a connection.

    In my own family I have brother and sister Ann Bullimore Hickson and Thomas Smith Hickson. Using Hugh Wallis's index and with the assistance of Huncamunca, I have some idea where the middle names originated but would need sources from Leicestershire, Rutlandshire, London and Lincolnshire to find evidence to confirm the connections. Most of these are not online. The connections appear to go back several generations.

    My current research into the Hall family has led to James Ellis Green. In this case Ellis was the father and Green was added to disguise a possible dalliance between the parents. Evidence for this comes from many sources, including John Ellis himself.

    Similarly, Ada Clayton Hopkins was baptised 7 years after her 'father' John Hopkins died. Mr Clayton lived around the corner at the time of her birth. I could assume he is the father. I know he was John Hopkin's uncle. Perhaps he was a kindly benefactor in time of need?

    There are many reasons why someone has a particular name. Without evidence nothing can be assumed.
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2014
  17. Ma-dotcom

    Ma-dotcom A Bonza Little Digger!

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    I too have unfounded middle names in my ancestors, one being 'Stamper' which I helpfully ;) put down to being a family friend of g.gt Grand father John Mitchell- perhaps also a mariner, or maybe a person he/she admired.
     
  18. The Artful Dodger

    The Artful Dodger R.I.P.

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    There could be a myriad of reasons why the middle name Barker was used and I am unlikely to find it 180+ years later.

    William and Mary had 4 children before Selina and all were baptised in the same years as born. Selina was their 5th and Mary Jane their 6th and last one found. Selina and MaryJane were baptised on the same date - 24 Nov. 1833. Mary Jane was born 1833.

    Maybe money was 'tight' in 1828. With their 6th in 1833 they may have had enough saved and BARKER was a friend of the family who confirmed the birth date of Selina.

    I'll probably never know. Selina never married and died aged 23.

    Not really an interesting branch of the family after all.
     
    Last edited: May 18, 2014
  19. MargaretMarch

    MargaretMarch Member

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    Illegitimate children could only be registered or baptised using the mother's surname so the mother would often give the father's surname as a middle name to indicate the truth. I have seen many examples of this practise.
     
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  20. The Artful Dodger

    The Artful Dodger R.I.P.

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    One way to possibly find out is the death certificate - the burial register indicates her age as 23 when she died in March 1852 and was buried on 14 March 1852. Her residence at the time of the 1851 and at her death was TREGAVARRAS, Gorran and her age was indicated as 22. According to the baptism register her date of birth was 27 June 1829.

    Should I try that or just accept that as the father was an Ag. Labourer that there wasn't enough cash to spare in 1829 and he had more important thing to spend money on at the time - there were 4 older children aged 2 to 8?
     

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