John Woods

[Marion Madden]

I am helping a friend with her family tree. Her Grandmother Laura Hamer - maiden name Woods born circa 1916 - had a child John Woods when she was very young - 15, 16 - She was ostricised by her family apparently and the child adopted. She married a Herbert Hamer in 1939 in the District of Nelson. I have searched Ancestry and Genes Reunited. The nearest I can find is John Wood registered in 1932 in Manchester North District with a mother whose surname is Wood. Is there anyone who may know this family.

[Tina]

Hi Marion
Your a good friend helping your pal out with her family tree.
Welcome to the forum.
I'm sure you will get a lot of help and directions where to go with your search.
All the best

Tina

[Hilary]

Hi Marion

You need to respost your request in the section Other areas help for maximum exposure to our "Crew".

[dickiesam]

Hi Marion,
You should get the birth cert to confirm the child's mother's full name. If he was adopted there will be a notation by the Registrar on the right-hand side of column 10 indicating the child was adopted. This notation would be made when a 'replacement' birth cert was issued to the adoptive parents and that cert is not available to the general public cum family researcher.

There are actually two possible births in Lancashire in the time frame you suggested. Both are registered in Manchester North.

Birth: WOOD, John
Registration District: Manchester North; Lancashire.
Year/qtr of Registration: 1932 / Apr-May-Jun
Mother's maiden name: Wood
Volume No: 8D; Page No: 627.

Birth: WOOD, Jack
Registration District: Manchester North, Lancashire.
Year/qtr of registration: 1933 / Oct-Nov-Dec
Mother's maiden name: Wood
Volume No: 8D; Page No: 477.

Sadly however, in relation to the first birth there is a young death that is probably the same child because there are no other births that fit in the time frame:
Name: WOOD, John
Registration District: Manchester North, Lancashire.
Year/qtr of Registration: 1932 / Jul-Aug-Sep
Age at death: 0
Volume No: 8D; Page No: 385.

If you are sure the child was adopted and you contact the Registry Office that currently holds the Manchester North records you could ask specifically for a cert which has the correct mother's name. In the circumstances I would think it is the 1933 birth. Otherwise, by ordering from the GRO in Southport, you will be depending on pot luck to get the right cert. I believe the Office you need is: http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scrip ... entID=1144

Once you have the correct cert and you confirm the child was adopted and not fostered, the only way forward is a search for an adopted child. And that is a whole new situation.

DS

[MaryA]

It's possible that a descendant may know his story and be interested to learn of any family. I would suggest that you post in a local newspaper, maybe The Manchester Evening News and somebody may make contact.