Quarriers - Scottish Orphanage

Post by **Pandabean** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:57 pm

While searching for a relative who didn't appear to exist so I was looking for his sibling instead (long story) I was directed to the Quarriers Genealogy service for children who were put into Orphanages in the late 1800s-mid1900s.

Basically the children I was looking for, their parents had died during the Great War and were put into care as they were under 16.

I e-mailed them with the details I had and they replied back that they had the details of both siblins, even the one who appeared not to exist. I am still awaiting the records so I am unsure as to what they contain yet.

They were very helpful when communicating with them, so here is the link for everyone who may be stuck or interested in relatives who ended up in an orphanage.

http://www.quarriers.org.uk/helpline.php

Regards,
Andy

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:23 pm

Hi Andy
How did you get on with the Quarriers Records? I've heard that their archived material is very good and, as you said, that they are very helpful.

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **Pandabean** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:16 am

Hi Lesley,

I got the records in a couple of weeks ago and I was surpirsed at what was there.

There were the initial aplications to the orphanage, which listed most of the basic information you would expect.

Along side that there was a written diary by the person who was looking after them, only updated now and again. It had detail such as one of the children had ran away from the home and went to stay with an old family friend/neighbour. on that sheet for the first entry it gives a breif summary of why they were in care. In this case the childrens father had been killed in the Great War, the mother was serving time in prison and a quote from the mother about close family "not a very nice bunch" or something similar which made me laugh.

Also included were letters from the son who was shipped to Canada in the 20s and he was asking about his father's pension.

Overall I say the records are excellent compared to other sources I have seen. I got my records pretty quickly as a relative in Canada had looked the family up earlier in the year so they had the records near by or could easily find them again. You do have to make a payment/donation of £20 I think it was.

I say it is worthwhile checking them out.

Andy

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:20 pm

Hi Andy

Just a bit of general information about Quarriers archive material.
2 or 3 years ago they were given money to electronically archive their records so they are much more accessible than the old 'look up a fading record book system'
Some folks have been lucky as a few groups heading out to Canada actually had group photographs taken and they have survived.
Unfortunately this happened for only a short period.
Since Quarriers is a charity the donation helps pay for the archivists that Quarriers employ. They take their job very seriously and are in touch with lots of folk across the world.
I have no experience of other orphanage organisations but it is good that at least one takes responsibility for the many children (and subsequent generations) who passed through their care system over the years.

Russell