I have just seen your posts. There were a number of orphanages in Liverpool. The Liverpool Seamans Orphanage had a minimum age of 6. I know because I have seen the papers where a relative was refused entry until he became the right age. There were other orphanages that took younger children.

Also, it was a charitable organisation to which people had to apply to enter. The application had to be supported by someone of standing in the community. They certainly did not take children. I have seen the records for myself.

It was certainly a hard life, but from everything I have read they gave one of the better educations to be had.