Informal adoption or something else?

[WelchRegLost]

One of my ancestral relatives, is listed in the 1851 census a long with another child as being "A Nursling" in relation to the head of the house. The head is 70 and his wife is 65, the children are 13 and 12. The surnames of the children are different and are different to the head.

Would this be some sort of informal adoption or does the phrase "A Nursling" have a different meaning?

 

[Half Hour]

I understand it is the same as a modern day foster child. ( I may be wrong, but that is my take on it)

 

[WelchRegLost]

Thank you @Half Hour

 

[Genie1]

Found online
noun

1. an infant, child, or young animal being nursed or being cared for by a nurse
   
   
2. any person or thing under fostering care, influences, or conditions.
   

 

[WelchRegLost]

Thank you @Genie1

 

[Barley]

The kids were probably "in care", i.e. the responsibility of the local Poor Law Union. The adults were paid to house and feed the children, and it was often a suitable job for older people and widows. Babies were often listed in censuses as "nurse child" and older carers might be listed as "nurse", but they were not the highly-qualified technically-educated people we associate with that description nowadays.

 

[WelchRegLost]

@Barley Thank you