Find Ancestors

Hi hope I'm not repeating myself as I thought I'd submitted this thread but I might have got it wrong as it's my first time! Apologies . Anyway I'm trying to find out a bit about my grandma. She was born in Leeds in 1902 but in 1903 her mum died and she was given up for adoption. I'd like some advice about where to go to see the evidence. I know her new surname but her new family and her dont come up in the 1911 census. I've sent off for her birth and marriage certificate from the Leeds Registry Office which might help but any top tips would be greatly appreciated.

Hello Dave, there were no formal adoption records before 1927.

Up until that time it was on an informal basis. Occasionally (but not very often) there may have been some form of legal agreement drawn up but there would be no register of this.

When you get the birth certificate it should give you more info. Meanwhile, if you want to give us details of your gran and the adoptive family then we'll see what we can find.

PS - you are only showing as having made one post (if you hover over someone's picture it gives more info) so you're not repeating yourself.

Hi Dave,

Prior to 1927 adoption were done by private arrangement,No formal records exsist.

The only chance maybe if she was placed with a childrens society and an admission &discharge book has been archived for this you need details......but that wont give any adoption details but may name whos care she was released to.

Part of a pm from Dave:

Thanks very much , my grandma was called Dorothy Colley and she became Dorothy Swann sometime after my great grandma Ada Colley died in 1903. Let me know if you need more info.

(Have explained about replying on here).

Dave, do you know when/where Dorothy was born?

Just posting background info to work from:

England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915
Name: Ada Colley
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1872
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1903
Age at Death: 31
Registration district: Leeds
Inferred County: Yorkshire West Riding
Volume: 9b
Page: 331

Would this be Dorothy's birth?

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
Name: Dorothy Colley
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1902
Registration district: Leeds
Inferred County: Yorkshire West Riding
Volume: 9b
Page: 580

1911

Name: Dorothy Colley
Age in 1911: 8
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1903
Relation to Head: Adopted Daughter
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Civil parish: Leeds
County/Island: Yorkshire-West Riding
Country: England
Street Address: 88 Freehold St Yorks Road Leeds
Occupation: School
Registration district: Leeds
Registration District Number: 500
Sub-registration district: North East Leeds
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Piece: 27099
Household Members: Name Age
John Thomas Swann 40 House Painter, Married 14 years, no children
Agnes Swann 38
Dorothy Colley 8

All born Leeds, Yorkshire

Marriages Jun 1896
BROADHEAD Agnes Leeds 9b 799
Swann John Thomas Leeds 9b 799

John and Agnes marriage:

West Yorkshire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935

Name: John Thomas Swann, bachelor - painter
Birth Year: abt 1871
Age: 25
Marriage or Bann Date: 9 May 1896
Parish: Leeds, St Alban the Martyr
Father's Name: Thomas Swann - cloth finisher
Spouse's Name: Agnes Broadhead, spinster age 23 - trainee painter
Spouse's Father's Name: Josiah Charles Broadhead - cartman

Witnesses: John Ollen and Sarah Ann Swann

Marriages Mar 1891
Colley Philip Leeds 9b 603
Wood Ada Leeds 9b 603


1901

Name: Ada Colley
Age: 30
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1871
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: Philip Colley
Gender: Female
Where born: Leeds, Yorkshire, England

Civil parish: Leeds
Ecclesiastical parish: All Saints
Town: Leeds
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Leeds
Sub-registration district: South East Leeds
ED, institution, or vessel: 23
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 176
Piece: 4217
Folio: 67
Page Number: 29
Household Members: Name Age
Philip Colley 33 Letter Carrier, b. Leeds
Ada Colley 30

1891

Name: Ada Colley
Age: 20
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1871
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: Phillip Colley
Gender: Female
Where born: Leeds, Yorkshire, England

Civil parish: Leeds
Ecclesiastical parish: St Stephens
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Leeds
Sub-registration district: North Leeds
ED, institution, or vessel: 59
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 3693
Folio: 132
Page Number: 5
Household Members: Name Age
Phillip Colley 23
Ada Colley 20

There is also this marriage which would fit:

West Yorkshire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935

Name: Isaac Tempest Colley, bachelor - currier
Birth Year: abt 1863
Age: 30
Marriage or Bann Date: 25 Feb 1893
Parish: Burmantofts, St Agnes and St Stephen
Father's Name: Philip Colley - currier
Spouse's Name: Ada Green, spinster age 20
Spouse's Father's Name: Joseph Green - stone dresser

Bride & groom both give address as 86 Stoney Rock.
Witnesses: Robert Colley and Ruth Wigglesworth

Isaac is a widower in the 1911 census.

Like the look of that marriage better MarieCeleste as I think that Agnes Broadhead's mother was a Green?

???

Marriages Mar 1863

BROADHEAD Josiah Wakefield 9c 16
GREEN Ann Wakefield 9c 16


1901

Name: Isaac T Colley
Age: 38
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1863
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Ada Colley
Gender: Male
Where born: Leeds, Yorkshire, England

Civil parish: Potter Newton
Ecclesiastical parish: Burmantofts St Agnes
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Leeds
Sub-registration district: Chapeltown
ED, institution, or vessel: 21
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 179
Piece: 4250
Folio: 134
Page Number: 28
Household Members: Name Age
Isaac T Colley 38
Ada Colley 28
Marian Colley 6
Clarence Ada Colley 5
Philip Colley 3
Elsie Colley 5 Months

1911

Name: Isaac Tempest Colley
Age in 1911: 48
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1863
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Civil parish: Guiseley
County/Island: Yorkshire-West Riding
Country: England
Street Address: Westbourne Ings Lane Guiseley

Marital Status: Widowed <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Occupation: Manager Leather Manufacture
Registration district: Wharfedale
Registration District Number: 491
Sub-registration district: Yeadon
ED, institution, or vessel: 11
Piece: 26039
Household Members: Name Age
Isaac Tempest Colley 48
Marian Colley 16
Clarice Ada Colley 15
Philip Colley 13
Elsie Colley 10

It's hard to call, rootgatherer!

Isaac is a widower in 1911 so if his wife had died he may not have been able to look after a small baby.

On the other hand there's a Philip Colley of the right age dying 1906 and I can't see his widow Ada in 1911 ......

I leave the Philip / Ada census up there for the time being MarieCeleste.

I think we need to wait until Dave gets the birth certificate to find out which Ada is Dorothy's Mum.

Looks like Philip and Isaac were brothers, so either way the father on this 1871 is likely to be Dorothy's grandfather:

COLLEY, Phillip Head M 33 1838 Yorkshire, Master Currier employing 3 men, 3 boys and 2 girls
COLLEY, Mary A Wife F 32 1839 Yorkshire
COLLEY, William Son M 13 1858 Yorkshire
COLLEY, Isaac J Son M 9 1862 Yorkshire << (Initial T on image)
COLLEY, Mary A Daughter F 7 1864 Yorkshire
COLLEY, Phillip Son M 3 1868 Yorkshire <<
COLLEY, Robert Son M 1 1870 Yorkshire
OWEN, Hannah P Niece F 18 1853 Yorkshire

Piece: 4556 Folio: 102 Page: 38
Registration District: Leeds
Civil Parish: Leeds
Municipal Borough: Leeds

Address: Cross Freehold Street House & Currier Shop, Leeds County: Yorkshire

Everyone born in Leeds

Wow guys this is fantastic stuff, you are right, her father was Isaac and he was a decorator so brilliant but the bit I'm struggling with is that she then becomes Dorothy Swann after she was adopted and I cant find any 9 year old Dorothy Swanns that fit the bill in the 1911 census!

Rootgatherer, I think this is the correct marriage for Agnes Broadhead's parents:

Marriages Sep 1874
BROADHEAD Josiah Charles Leeds 9b 814 <<
Owen Hannah Pollard Leeds 9b 814 <<
Owens Catherine Leeds 9b 814
Viles Henry Arthur Leeds 9b 814

Now, look at the name of the niece on that 1871 census!

Dave, look at rootgatherer's post timed 19:10 above!

The family connection is that Agnes Swann (nee Broadhead) is the daughter of Isaac's cousin Hannah.

But Rootgatherer posted the 1911 census, they didn't change her name but put her down as adopted daughter!

Marriage of Isaac's parents:

West Yorkshire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935

Name: Phillip Colley, bachelor - Currier
Birth Year: abt 1836
Age: 21
Marriage or Bann Date: 5 Sep 1857
Parish: Leeds, St Peter
Father's Name: Isaac Colley - Farmer
Spouse's Name: Mary Ann Walsh, spinster age 20
Spouse's Father's Name: William Walsh - Cordwainer

Both give address as Freehold Street.

Witnesses: Stephen Walsh and Rachel Denton

Rootgatherer, wow I cant keep up with you guys , just rung my dad and he has confirmed the address Freehold Street, what was the source of this or is it closely guarded? I couldn't find it but then again I'm the novice and totally in awe well done thanks