Adoption question & Wills

[ladybird]

Two questions if anybody can help.

1) Would a single man be able to adopt a little girl in the 1930's. if he was not the Father. I have somebody who was brought up by a single man with her 'brother' who was the son of the single man.But there is no wirtten details that he is her father. Would this be possible?

2) Does anybody know how you can look at wills,or do you need to go to London?These are wills that would have been the early 1900's.


Thank you

 

[davelambert271]

http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/review/806

'' In the first place, given the shame associated with illegitimacy, it is impossible to tell how many children secretly born out of wedlock were adopted within the family unit, or by sympathetic friends and neighbours. Secondly, since legalised child adoption was a practice introduced much later in Britain than the United States or many Commonwealth countries and the initial laws dealing with this were permissive rather than mandatory (p. 2), informal child adoption continued well into the 1930s. ''

 

[gibbo]

It does seem unusual situation but then nothing should surprise us

The 2 kids birth certificates would be interesting to see if there is any connection.

 

[davelambert271]

some sites have a search facility for wills and probate. If you post the details someone may be able to find a record. Also it may have been posted in a newspaper
this website may help
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/wills-and-probate.htm

 

[jay]

You could also try local record offices. I tracked down a couple of relevant wills at the Derbyshire Record Office and at the one in Lichfield for my family.


Jay.

 

[ladybird]

It does seem unusual situation but then nothing should surprise us

The 2 kids birth certificates would be interesting to see if there is any connection.

This is the problem I cannot find the birth of the girl,as I do not know what he name was. She was known by her brother surname in later years, but I cannot find her birth.

 

[davelambert271]

hi ladybird
is it possible to post the two childrens names ages etc. If still alive you could post on the private sensitive forum or send a private message
dave,

 

[ladybird]

hi ladybird
is it possible to post the two childrens names ages etc. If still alive you could post on the private sensitive forum or send a private message
dave,

Thanks Dave, I will do that for the one that we think is adopted. She is no longer alive,but I do not wan to cause upset.