I know of two instances in different branches of my family, where a mother died and the young children were put into childrens's homes or orphanages, even though their father was still living. This was in New England at the turn of the century and the families were Irish immigrants. Was this a common practice in those days when a mother died?
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This is eerie! I came here to ask the same question. This branch are Irish Immigrants, my G Grandmother died first in 1916, their father was still alive for the next few years., Though an Aunt took in my Grandmother however none of her brother. I found one in a " child haven for orphans.", the other two brothers don't seem to be there or any where for that matter. My story transpired NYC, maybe as odd as we find the act it was a common occurance in that time.
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In the St Louis MO, Franklin County MO area. I have had 2 relatives that have given their children up to orphanages, at least for awhile. My grandfather made his daughter tell him where she took the grand daughter so they could go get her. A great aunt put 3 of her children in catholic orphanage in St Louis because of husband leaving. I believe she did go back and pick them up later on.
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Where your family members Irish Immigrants ?
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no, this was in 1919. our ancestry was a lil German, indian, english etc
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`There was a period of time in the US during which single parents were not deemed fit to look after their children and if a spouse died or deserted the children could be forcibly taken from the remaining parent. Society, including their friends and family were of the opinion that the parent SHOULD send their children away to be taken care of. Sometimes grandparents, upon finding this out, would intervene, sometimes not. Other parents sent their children to the orphanage because they could not or felt they could not look after them adequately. My grandmother and great-grandmother both sent children to the orphanage for a time. It sounds barbaric to us but there were no social services in place at that time and little recourse for parents trying to work and look after children. Although neither I nor my parents experienced this, I am glad times have changed - it makes me shudder to think of those poor children ripped away from all they knew.
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Adding to that, I read somewhere that prior to the early 1900's father's had more rights than the mother. If, he had a will which designated his minor children go to a relative upon his death. That wish was held up more times than not even if the mother was living. By the way, I recently found out that 2 of the 3 brothers were taken in by my G Grand Aunt. Weird thing is in the news listing of the Aunt's will. The boy's name was sited as a nephew named Vincent and not the name on his birth record (my Great Grandfather was the only one of his siblings that had children).. Any thoughts as to why that took place?
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Have been researching my family history for my daughters. Came across your post searching for orphanges. You were correct in all of your remarks. My sister and I in the late 50's were put into orphanages from ages 5 to 18. We had parents. Mother deserted. Father alcoholic. our grandmother contacted the Catholic Charities requesting assistance. We never really understood why our other family members couldn't take care of us. Your last sentence really broke my heart.
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In the time from that last post I found out that it was normal for Orphanages to change children's birth names. Why, my Great Grand Aunt used the name Vincent as opposed to Thomas his birth name, is what bothers me the most. There is no doubt that my Great Uncle knew his true name as he was 11 when his mother died in 1916. Nothing, could ever make me understand why such a horrible action followed no matter the circumstances.. I hope you and your siblings were able to stay together and or rekindle a closeness that I am certain my Grans and her two brothers never got to do with Thomas/Vincent.
Danielle
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I've been researching the same situation. Mother disappears (not sure if she left or died) and and the 13yo girl is adopted by an elderly couple who never had children as far as I can tell. At the time of the adoption, 1922, her last name is changed to theirs. However father continues to live in the same small town as the girl and her adoptive parents for the rest of her life. He didn't put his 8yo son up for adoption, though, and one to three older brothers had moved out and married by this time. The younger son lives with his father for 20 years until the father dies, in that time he also marries. The adopted girl continues to live with her adoptive parents well into her 20's but she disappears from records after her adoptive parents die.
In another situation, I noticed that the father died and his five children were divided up between the mother's parents and brothers while she remarried to a widower with several older children and had more children by him. It doesn't appear that the children by her first husband ever returned to live with their mother. But the man's older children continued to live with them. I found that to be an odd situation. Like she discarded her family and moved on to a new one. It did make for an interesting census treasure hunt though.
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