Genealogy Chat

Have been having difficulty trying to trace my grandfather and finally after 3 months have had a lucky break! The problem I have is that his parents never seemed to keep any of their children. My grandfather was given to two spinster aunts in Uphall in Scotland as a baby and his siblings were shipped abroad by Banardos. There is a copy of a will where they had tried to trace children beneficiaries and my grandfather is mentioned with (Uphall?) next to his name and a brother name unknown (u.s.a?). How do i try to find out any info on these children and where they were shipped from and when. Can i go on the banardos site and e-mail them. Many thanks.

All passengers to USA went through Ellis Island. Do you have any names and approximate dates to follow? Dea

Hi Dea no i have nothing to go on. Have just been on National Archives and got a wesite address for Ellis Island. This whole side of the family has been a nightmare with next to no info to work with. If they were shipped out by Banardos will they give me any info they have?There is a long story behind all of this and so hard to know where to start hence why taken 3 months already.

Sorry, I can't help, but I find this heartbreaking. I thought I had trouble finding relations, but they're nothing to yours. Good luck. Sally.

If , as you say, there is a copy of a will where they tried to trace the children, - you must, at least, have some names and possible dates of birth. Give us what info you have and we will try to find something for you. Dea

Hi Catherine I believe that you may get some information from Barnardos if you can prove that you are next of kin. Last year I went on their website in an attempt to track down my great grandfather's origins but because I wasn't sure of my data or my status as next of kin I couldn't take it any further. I'm still trying to get 'proof' but as he was adopted/taken in by a Smith in London it is something of a needle in a haystack! Good luck. Daisy

This is what i have been told. Kenneth Pake was my grandfather. As a tiny baby he was sent to Uphall Scotland to live with 2 aunts. His siblings were sent abroad. He was put in the Blackwatch at about 15y. When came out the army he went to Salisbury Wilts and met up with a widow and her children. Had a couple of children then she died. Then he took my gran in as his housekeeper with her children and they had my mum in 1950. When mum was a couple of years old he died of cancer. Have no idea of his date or place of birth or his date of death just that it was in Salisbury. Had a break when stumbled on a womans website with the names Pake. E-mailed her and she got back to me with info regarding the Pakes and she has always had the missing link of Kenneth! There was a will of Marion Brown Pake and her estate had to be split 45 ways! They tried hard to trace all beneficiaries and it says children of the deceased's late uncle john pake(born 9/1/1855) 1. Kenneth pake (Uphall?) 2.son (name not known - u.s.a ?) It would appear that kenneths parents were John Pake and Jane Nichol. I have no idea how many children they had but in the 1901 census they had no children with them. There is another son called John who seems to have been given to relatives in Scotland. They gave all their children away. I was told that they had died and this is why but this lady says they died in 1918 and 1924. As you can see totally stumped and a complete mess. Any help very gratefully recieved.

Do you know when & where your grandfather was born? Its possible that his siblings were born in the same town so it may be possible to find birth registrations.

If you put into Google British Home Children it will give you info and links. Dr Barnados, the Catholic Church, Methodist Church, C of E and social services sent 100's of thousands of children abroad. Some were taken from there families and called orphans. They were sent to Canada, Australia and America I think. So many were abused and used as cheap labour. It was stopped in the 1970's. It was a huge scandal and there was a programe (TV) a few years back about those in Australia. I wish you all the luck and whoever you contact re info keep at it do not accept the story that there are no records. Pat

there is a link that will give you th vessel that children travelled on to Canada by you putting in the name. #if your relation was shipped by Barnados however they do have their books open for seraching if you downlaod the enquiry form from their site. You can Google both to find the link. My Aunt was sent to canada a a home child in 1909 & I found the vessel she went on . Shirley

Thankyou all for your help hopefully now i will find something.!!