Genealogy Chat

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Hi I have a bit of a tricky family dilema here. I have a boy who on the 1871 census is stated as the heads son (Mary Drumm wid) he was born in c.1851/1861 in Liverpool. In 1861 and he was not living with the family so who is he could he have been adopted? Or could he have possibly been illegitimate and sent away until her husband died and then he returned? Anyone else had this dilema??? It is very interesting but also i need to find out who he is? Any Ideas....very tricky?? Please tell me if i am confusing anyone just giving all the info that i have found to give anyone any more ideas Thanks Stephanie.

i thought he was born in Liverpool?

He is.

You have changed what you said oriinally, you mentioned a surrey workhouse

Sorry, on IGI there was an entry in 1852 for a John Drum with Mother Mary and no father baptised in Saint Saviours Workhouse, Southwark Surrey. But i am unsure about that now as i don't know whether he is 10 or 19 on the 1871 census. Sorry i didnt want to confuse you. Stephanie,

You have made me look silly by changing the info, stop clutching at straws

Steph, You seem to have changed your first message. Now you write could be born 1851/1861. John Drum is not on either of these census, I have just checked for you. John Drum could have been born after the census was made, in which case he could only appear on the 1871 census. Elizabeth

I assume he is the John, living at 32 Vane Street West Derby in 1871 with mother Mary and 12 year old sister, also Mary. His age is hard to read but I think it says 19 (looks like a 10 which has been altered and he is recorded above 12 year old Mary and has an occupation (clerk) Have you looked to see if the John Drum you found born in 1851 in Southwark appears in later censuses? It seems unlikely that he is your chap, beiring in mind the difference in place of birth but anything is possible I suppose. Have you found your John's mother or sister in 1861?

Sorry Alice i didnt mean to make you look silly. I just thought that was making it more confusing. I wrote 1851/1861 because i and the people and the records office board message searching for him in 1881, are not sure whether it says 10/19 on the census in 1871. Thanks Stephanie, Hi Judith thankyou for your ideas. I have found the mother and sister and possible father on the 1861 census they are living at 30 Peters Lane in Liverpool. However John is not with them. Thanks Judith for your veiws.

Adoptions weren't legalised until 1927 so you'd have a job proving that he was adopted prior to that time in any case. Mandy :)

Thanks Mandy, i wasn't aware of that. Thankyou stephanie. This may help in a letter of Older brother James he talks about the shock of hearing John death and hoped that they could have met once more as the few hours they had together after an ABSENCE OF 11 YEARS were too little to recall. The memories of their boyhood days together,. and of the happy times when they were all UNITED and in better times. Maybe illegitimacy maybe he was taken by someone or was ill???? Ver Strange and puzzling.

Maybe as someone said before, that he was not on the 1861 census because he was not born yet. It is such a simple answer, but on freebmd i cannot find a birth for him, but then again the site is not full yet. Thanks to everyone who has offered their opinions so far!! I much appreciate it. Stephanie.

Hi Bernice thanks once again i have replied to you PM. Thanks stephanie!

Steph, Maybe these dates will be help to you: 1851 Census taken 30 March 1851 1861 Census taken 7th April 1861 1871 Census taken 2nd April 1871 So if John was born ,for example, 1 May 1861 he would not be listed on the 1861 census. Elizabeth

Thanks Elizabeth, i will have to get the birth registration. Thanks