Luanne: Someone on one of the Missouri maillists.. said that while looking
at land deeds.. she/he found deeds for children...
here is the information:
----- Original Message -----
From: "luanne reed" <chanamadila(a)netscape.net>
To: <CAMPBELL-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2000 11:51 AM
Subject: Orphans or Adopted children???
Can anyone give me a tip on where to search for
The following
is message about orphan trains and the recording of early
adoptions posted in Jefferson County by Dave Hallemann which I thought that
some of you might find as interesting and informative as I did. Also, if
you're interested in reading up on the subject, there are several books
about these orphan trains available on
Amazon.com, including one which I
recently purchased at Barnes & Noble in St. Louis entitled "Orphan Trains to
Missouri" by Michael D. Patrick, which I found fascinating.
B. Warner
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Hallemann" <Sleuth(a)cat2.com>
To: <MOJEFFER-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Monday, December 25, 2000 9:48 AM
Subject: [MOJEFFER] Adoptions...
I am attaching an article I wrote for the Historical and Genealogical
Society newsletters on some adoption I found in the Warranty Deed books at
the court house in Jefferson County. If any one "out there" knows of an
adoption web site please forward this information. Also you may find
"anything", wills, adoptions, property transactions, election results,
etc.,
in the early warranty deed books. I suggest you use this valuable source in
your research. In Jefferson County these records are on microfilm at the
Northwest branch of the county library. Other counties you will have to
tract them down but they should be at the Recorder of Deed office at all
courthouses. They seem to have used a standardized form for much of these
documents. This article is two type written pages long but hopefully you
will find "something" in it to help with your research.
Merry Christmas to all and Happy Hunting!
__________________________________________________
Jefferson County, Mo. Adoptions
By Dave Hallemann
Have you seen the PBS documentary on the "Orphan Trains"? It aired
regarding adoptions across the Midwest, of orphan children from New York
and
other places.
Jefferson County could have been in that documentary. While doing deed
research for cemetery articles I came across the following "Deeds of
Adoption". I am submitting them for historical reference and to aid
persons
in research of their genealogy. These references would be almost
impossible
for researchers to find due to their unusual place of record.
Due to the length of the documents I will condense them for this
publication.
The first "Deed of Adoption" was recorded in Warranty Deed book 61 at page
626. The "Deed" was entered by the Children's Home Society of Missouri.
"Where as a male child Thomas Charles Rudder was born in the County of
Jefferson, State of Missouri,.and whereas the Probate Court of Jefferson
County for good and sufficient reasons.entered this 22nd Day of August
1906,
surrendering and delivering said child to the Children's Home Society of
Missouri.to secure for said child a home in a good family on the most
favorable terms possible, including legal adoption, indenture, .and whereas
said child has been placed in the home of John Wafler and Mary A. Wafler
husband and wife residing in Pevely, Jefferson County,.who have had the
said
child for 90 days.and desire to adopt him as their own.give said child
treatment and Christian education.and change his name to Henry Samuel
Wafler.19th day of April 1907."
As can be seen by this first document, the nightmare someone doing
genealogical research as to what happened to little Thomas Charles Rudder
would encounter. His parents probably died as this was handled through
Probate court. The day he was born was left out of the document however
there was a place provided for it.
The Children's Home Society of Missouri also entered the second "Deed of
Adoption" in Warranty Deed book 65 at page 197.
"Whereas a male child, Charles Henry Madole, was born in the County of
Adair on or about the 4th day of March A. D. 1893, and whereas Margaret and
S. F. Figge of Adair County for good and sufficient reasons.entered on the
29th day of March A. D. 1900 surrender and deliver said child.and whereas
the child ahs been placed by the Society in the home of George & Ellen
Rasmi(?)sen.who have had the said child for 30 days.and changed his name to
Charles Henry Madole Rasmi(?)sen.this 5th day of February A. D. 1909."
The third "Deed of Adoption" didn't go through an adoption society but
direct as recorded in Warranty Deed book 69 at page 159.
"This deed made and entered into this 21st day of March 1910, by and
between Ray L. Smith and Mattie Smith his wife of the county of
Jefferson.parties of the first part and Velma Smith a minor of the county
of
Jefferson.party of the second part, Witnesseth: That the said parties of
the
first part in consideration of one dollar to them in hand paid, the receipt
is hereby acknowledged, and of the love and affection they bear unto the
said Velma Smith and for diverse other considerations them thereunto
moving,
has adopted."
This could have been a child from a chose relative.
The next "Deed of Adoption" recorded in Warranty Deed book 73 at page 290,
".made this 10th day of May 1912.between the New York Foundling
Hospital.and
Theo Graving and Helen his wife of Maxville.whereas Nellie Clarke female
child now of the age of thirteen years and nine months.is put, placed, and
indentured.to the said parties as their own child in every respect, until
the said Nellie Clarke shall arrive at her legal majority, to live with and
be employed by.second parties agree; 1).to provide suitable and proper
board, lodging and medical attention,.2).teach and educate.ordinary
branches
of school required by law.including reading, Writing, and the general rules
of arithmetic and will bring her up in a moral and correct manner and in
the
Catholic Faith.3).parties will not, nor their legal representatives or
assigns, assign or transfer this indenture to any other person.4).that the
said parties will report and least once every six months during said term,
in writing, to the Board of Managers.whether the child is still living
under
the card of the parties and if not , where and with whom the child is
living, and further state why the child is not living with the
parties.5).that the officers and managers of the (Foundling Hospital) may
see said child to ascertain if the parties are caring out all the
conditions
of this indenture.6).shall not be construed to render the (Foundling
Hospital) responsible for damages of any cause whatever.7).that in case of
breech by parties.of the stipulations, agreements, or covenants.be null and
void.8).that if the child shall have attained her legal majority, and shall
not have so been returned before she have attained such age and this
agreement be duly cancelled and annulled...or if said child be not legally
adopted.be deemed to have elected and to keep, treat and maintain said
child
as if it were their own.and if the parties should die in testate said child
shall inherit and succeed to such share of the property."
The last "Deed of Adoption" was recorded in Warranty Deed book 75 at page
15;
"This indenture made this 11th day of May 1912, between the New York
Foundling Society and Jos. Haberberger and K. Haberberger his wife of
Maxville.whereas Bertha Washbauer female child now the age of fourteen and
three months...(same as above)"
It appears that the older children's name was not changed.
The practice of entering adoptions into county Warranty Deed book I assume
was a common practice employed statewide, as the entry form seems standard.
Researchers in other county may find entries there. However I would guess
a
record was only entered into the county of the adoptive parents.
After the Civil War one of the most gripping of New York's social problems
was the abandonment of infants in the streets of the city. Poverty,
immigration, inadequate housing, and a financial depression were the
factors, which made abandonment an ever-present evil. In 1869, it had no
longer become an item of news, or even of interest, to find an abandoned
infant on the doorsteps of a rich family, in the hallway of a tenement, or
at the entrance to a convent. St. Peter's Convent on Barclay Street (New
York) was a favorite refuge of distraught mothers and very often the
Sisters
on opening their door in the morning, would find a tiny waif deposited on
the doorstep.
So the beginnings of the New York Foundling Hospital.
The Children's Home Society had offices in every state and was undoubtedly
established for the same reason as above stated.
I offer this glimpse of history to aid researchers; to draw attention to
the fact that adoptions were recorded in Warranty Deed books, and with the
hope that someone "out there", with the knowledge, will direct this to an
appropriate area on the internet where it may help others to find their
family.
©2000 Dave Hallemann
This article may be distributed in any form as long as
no fee is charged and the author is given credit.
Dave Hallemann
Sleuth(a)cat2.com