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My Mum's father had a son with his first wife. When she died, he married my grandmother, who died in 1916, leaving my Mum (5) and her stepbrother (8). Robert Bourn then married again in 1921 and my Mum always said that she didn't 'get on' with her stepmother and was sent to an orphanage. Now, I've learned that sons were often kept behind to follow in father's trade, but as I didn't ask the question, I've no idea where Mum could have been sent. How I wish I'd asked the questions when she was here!
All this happened from 1921 onwards. I have Robert Bourn living in Longridge, Lancashire in 1914, from the death cert of his son. Robert died in 1931 in Liverpool and the death cert doesn't mention his third wife (Maretta), only his son, William
The only clue I have, is that Mum trained as a nurse at The Southern Hospital in Liverpool (now closed). Could she have been sent to an 'Industrial School', where girls were prepared for a career? Perhaps in Liverpool, as that's where Robert died. Mum and Dad married in Liverpool, where Dad's parents lived and Mum gave that as her address too - interesting............
But, how on earth do I progress this mystery?
I've had a breakthrough in tracing Mum's mother's grave and the two little ones who died as tiny infants, so it's put me on a roll now, to try to trace this. I don't know whether 'an orphanage' meant what we take it as today, so I'd be so grateful for any suggestions.
Gwyn
All this happened from 1921 onwards. I have Robert Bourn living in Longridge, Lancashire in 1914, from the death cert of his son. Robert died in 1931 in Liverpool and the death cert doesn't mention his third wife (Maretta), only his son, William
The only clue I have, is that Mum trained as a nurse at The Southern Hospital in Liverpool (now closed). Could she have been sent to an 'Industrial School', where girls were prepared for a career? Perhaps in Liverpool, as that's where Robert died. Mum and Dad married in Liverpool, where Dad's parents lived and Mum gave that as her address too - interesting............
But, how on earth do I progress this mystery?
I've had a breakthrough in tracing Mum's mother's grave and the two little ones who died as tiny infants, so it's put me on a roll now, to try to trace this. I don't know whether 'an orphanage' meant what we take it as today, so I'd be so grateful for any suggestions.
Gwyn
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