Genealogy Chat

I was adopted in 1945 and by a fluke discovered my real father who was instrumental in my being adopted (he was deceased). What I cannot discover is anything about my birth mother. I have her name and address but because of the war no adoption papers exist.Searching all archives I have drawn a blank everywhere.Has anyone any ideas? thanks Mary

Hi If you know your birth mothers name, look for her birth certificate, & a marriage certificate. Once you have found a marriage you can then look for any children from that marriage. This may help you in a search Also type in the search box adopted, i'm sure there is a thread which may help you sandra

Adele Who told you 'because of the war, no adoption papers exist'? Could they have been trying to fob you off? The usual excuse was that they were all destrpyed in a fire! If you know which court handled your adoption, you could approach them to see if they still have the records (which they shuold). They will not let you see them, but it will give you a place to start badgering the SS. OC

Thanks for your reply. I have searched all records but cannot find birth or marriage for my mother.I will try to find Court records as they should be in my home town of Swansea. Mary

Hi Adele, A couple of questions, what name do you have? do you have her maiden name?, was she married when she had you? just wanted to see what records have you checked for these entries. In some cases you may not be able to find a records of her birth, for instance if she was born in Scotland or Ireland, her birth will not show on Ancestry of findmypast, and also although it is rare my own BM was adopted, so there would be no entry for her under the name that I had for her. Let us know what you have done, so we can advise you. Sheila

HI I have my mother`s maiden name which is Mary Enid Edmunds and her married name Rees. I have searched extensively and also used a researcher who drew a blank.

Adele, What was your father's name and what year was he born? Rose

Hi Adele Do you know how old your birth mother was at the time of your birth? We all make assumptions that relinquishing birth mothers are young girls when in fact during war time so many women in the late 20's and 30's often got pregnant. (I know from my own research there is mother and baby home in North Wales used for ex-service woman in 1945) As you have the address of your birth mother and assuming this was her family home... you could go the the library of that area and check the electoral roll for the names of the people who lived there at that time. If she was under 21 she won't be on it but her parents will be. Your b/mother may have changed her surname (it happened in my family) but if you get her parents names it may be a starting point. Cheers Gerry

HI My dad`s name was Charles Stanley Jones born 1904 in Swansea.I am planning to look at electoral rolls next.Will have to go to London Metropolitan archives.One gentleman found a likely match but date of birth was 1927which I thought at 17 years old was a little too young. Mary

Adele- if you cannot- for whatever reason - find a file - where are you getting all this info from? What about Swansea Social sevices after adoption service - might they help you? They will be able to look in places you wont.

Hi Adele, If you know when the marriage was where have you looked for a ref, just thinking it could be an idea to order the marriage cert, this would give her age, address at the time and fathers and husbands details, (was this in Wales?) Although the adoption papers where lost it would be unlikely that the court papers where lost as well, these may be quite brief given the year of the adoption, but may help. Try contacting the regional court involved or SS in that area. Could you clarify where this information is coming from ? was it from you adoptive parents? Sheila

Hi Adele, Just been doing a little research for you, there are 3 Mary E Rees on the 2004 electoral roll, but it does not state in these cases what the E stands for. However, on looking on findmypast there is a death registered in August 1984 in Swansea for a Mary Enid D Rees, born 16th Junes 1906, this would make her about 39 when you would have been born, but as Geraldine said it was not only young girls who got pregnant during the war years, and it would put your birth father about 2 years older than her. Funny thing is, I cannot find a birth entry for her to match up, the only birth entry about that time is for a Mary Edmunds in July - Sept 1906,are you sure of her maiden name. ? Sheila

Sheila, The death you found is for a Mary Enid D Thomas. Births Sep 1906 Thomas Mary Enid D Swansea 11a 1057 Rose

Hi Rose, The death is for a Mary Enid Rees see below, REES, Mary Enid D 16 June 1906 Swansea 1984 August Volume No 27 Page No 1720 Reg No 884 But I could not find an entry for her birth :O( Sheila

Hi Sheila, The death info. you posted matches the birth info. I posted. Rose

Hi I have just been reading your messages, It is great that you are going to all this trouble for me. I will definately get the certificates about this Mary Rees and hope it is my bm Mary

Hi Rose, So you think the birth you found for Thomas is this Mary Enid D Rees ? how did you find her maiden name out ? . It would make sense that could be why I cannot find her birth reg, but how did you match the two together as the death reg do not give the persons maiden name ? Adele, Hold of ordering the cert, till we make sure it would be worth it, no point in wasting your money if this is the wrong match. :O) Sheila

Sheila, I searched for a Mary Enid D born Jun or Sep qtr 1906. That was the only match there and it also happened to be in Swansea. Rose

Hi Adele, Where did you get your mothers maiden name from ? could Rose be right ? You say you have a copy of your original cert, was your mother married then, and was her name Edmunds or Rees ? Is your Aunt still alive to verify any of this ? Sheila

Hi On my birth certificate it says my mother`s name as Mary Enid Rees nee Edmunds. Acting on the advice off one of the threads I called the Magistrate courts to see if they have records from 1945.They said yes and to write in and they will me information. Mary No my aunt died in 1975.