British Home Children?

ladybird · Post by **ladybird** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:17 pm

I'm wondering if anyone can help please
I have a rellie Janet Nelson Townsend (Townsley) born High Church, Glasgow 1868.
By the 1881 census she is an orphan, her parents were Travellers, and is listed as a scholar at 71 Duke St, Glasgow (Glasgow School for Girls ...which was also North Prison)

I haven't been able to find her on the 1891 census, marriage or death records.

Does anyone know if Glasgow sent children to the colonies? There seems to have been a long thread about it on GR and I just wondered

Sylvia

Post by **Tracey** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 6:28 pm

Sounds very much like yours ...........except this one isnt an orphan

1891 Census

Name: Janet Townsley
[Janet Nelson] - says other possible names
Age: 19
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1872
Relationship: Daur (Daughter)
Spouse's name : James
Father's Name: John
Mother's Name: Sarah
Gender: Female
Where born: Biggar, Lanarkshire
Registration Number: 559/3
Registration district: Johnstone and Elderslie
Civil Parish: Paisley Abbey
County: Renfrewshire
Address: Caravan on Side Road
ED: 13
Household schedule number: 113
Line: 12
Roll: CSSCT1891_176
Household Members: Name Age
Fanny Nelson 16
John Nelson 37
Mary Nelson 1
Nancy Nelson 7
Sarah Nelson 36
Sarah Nelson 4
Thomassina Nelson 6
William Nelson 15
James Townsley 19
Janet Townsley 19
William Townsley 1mo

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:17 pm

Hi Sylvia

Although Tracey has given you your answer there is an interesting point.
Glasgow would not send children to the colonies but many organisations for orphans and homeless children would. Children could be referred by the City of Glasgow officials (Poor Law Inspectors), and similar officials in other towns, to places like Quarriers Orphanage (Orphan Homes of Scotland) and they did send children out to Canada. Barnardo's also sent children to Australia.

The Townsley name is still known in the Renfrewshire area and they are still Travellers. A very proud family too; unfortunately not everyone welcomes 'tinkers' on their land so many of their traditional camping places are now barred to them.

Russell

ladybird · Post by **ladybird** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:31 pm

Thank you for that

Tracey

I had seen the 1891 census mentioned and wasn't sure about it. Janet was definately an orphan, I have her parents death certs.
I think I discounted that census at the time because of the daughter relationship with the Nelson family. There are also too many Janet Nelson births coming up on SP for my credit card to cope with!
It would also mean that Janet married a Townsley.
None of these things are impossible of course and I hope it is her, she was the only one left in a family of 5 children.
I think I really need to find out where Janet's middle name came from, so far I have no other Nelsons in my tree.

Russell

"The Townsley name is still known in the Renfrewshire area and they are still Travellers. A very proud family too"
I'm very glad to hear that

I have found extended family in America that still follow the Traveller traditions.
Love 'em or hate 'em they're still family!

Post by **Tracey** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:41 pm

Hi Ladybird

My great grandmother had two "middle" names one of which was Townlie and i have no idea where that came from but there are many family rumours of them being associated with "Gypsies or Travellers" and that is where it supposedly came from but i am never going to find that one out for sure - i like the name though !

Tracey

ladybird · Post by **ladybird** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:51 pm

Good luck to you if you do decide to go down that road, Tracey, they are a nightmare to sort