Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hello,
Can anyone solve the mystery as to what happened to the following children after they were adopted;
Thomas & Nancy Bonney are on the 1881 Census in Oldham, with the first child they adopted:
Mary A Trinker/Tinker born 1872 Ashton. (Piece 4068 Folio 37)
In 1901 the couple are in Newton Le Willows, Mary is not with them, but 2 more adopted children are :
Alice Munnerley born Liverpool 1888
James Henry Tally Bonney age 1.(Piece 3575 Folio 90)

Cant find any of the children after 1901.
Did they marry ?? or die ??

Thanks Margie

Hi Margie,
Formal adoptions did not begin until 1928. So-called 'Adoptions' before that date were very informal and were in fact more akin to fostering. There was also the 'nurse-child' arrangement where a very young child would be placed with a family when the child would otherwise end up in a workhouse. The family would be paid a small weekly maintenance sum by the local council. Unfortunately, foster children in one census could be anywhere in the next, possibly back with their birth parent(s).

I think the 1881 transcription of Trinker is incorrect and it should be Tinker which would fit with Births Dec 1871: TINKER, Mary Ann - Ashton 8d 465

This appears to be Alice Munnerley....
Marriages Jun 1909: MUNNERLEY, Alice married Hesketh, Joseph - W.Derby 8b 589
1910+1:
Address: 47 PRESCOT ROAD, KNOTTY ASH, WEST DERBY, Lancs
JOSEPH HESKETH HEAD 1862 49 Sexton, Parish church of Knotty Ash - SIMONSWOOD, Lancs
ALICE HESKETH WIFE 1888 Age 23 - WAVERTREE, Lancs

This could be her death. YoB is only 2 years out....
Death: ALICE HESKETH
Age: 80
Year 1966; March qtr; LIVERPOOL NORTH - 10D - 229

With regard to James Henry 'Tally' Bonney said to be born abt 1900, because there were no formalities in respect of surnames, Bonney may not have been his birth name. If he married he would probably have used his own family name which may not have been Bonney, and the same if he had died.

DS.
Thank you so much have found the Marriage, yes that must be Alice.
Regards Margie.

Marriage DS found on Anc,


Name:
Alice Munnerley
Birth Year:
abt 1887
Age:
22
Marriage Date:
12 Apr 1909
Parish:
Knotty Ash, St John the Evangelist
Spouse's Name:
Joseph Hesketh
Father's Name:
George Munnerley
Spouse Father's Name:
William Hesketh

Marriage - St. John the Evangelist, Knotty Ash
12th April 1909

Joseph Hesketh, age 47, Widower,
Profession - Sexton
Residence - 53 Bonsall Street
Father - William Hesketh, Farm Labourer

Alice Munnerley, age 22, Spinster
Residence - 73 Moscow Drive
Father - George Munnerley (deceased), Wheelwright

Both signed their names.

Witnesses - Frederick Munnerley, Elizabeth Ann Munnerley

Could this be James,
1911,
RG14, P24482
8 Burnley St, Oldham,

Herbert Vincent Bonney 34
Mary Jane Bonney 31
Cyril Vincent Bonney
Alice Bonney 5
Mary Bonney 3
Herbert Bonney 2
Vincent Bonney 4/12
Charles Felton 62
Fredrick Jenkinson 21
James Bonney 11, Born, Newton Le Willows, Adopted.

Possible,

1901,
RG13 P3826 F160 P36


James Mooney 44
Mary A Tinker, 29, Servant, born, Duckinfield, Cheshire, (near to Ashton)

Marriage,

Mary A Tinker, James Mooney,
1917, Oldham,
8d 1027

Bertieone wrote:Could this be James,
1911,
RG14, P24482
8 Burnley St, Oldham,

Herbert Vincent Bonney 34
Mary Jane Bonney 31
Cyril Vincent Bonney
Alice Bonney 5
Mary Bonney 3
Herbert Bonney 2
Vincent Bonney 4/12
Charles Felton 62
Fredrick Jenkinson 21
James Bonney 11, Born, Newton Le Willows, Adopted.

Hi Bert,
I'd say that has to be THE James Bonney. There couldn't be two born in the same year in the same place!

Is this his death?
JAMES H BONNEY
Age At Death: 52
Year 1951; Sep qtr;
District: CAMBERWELL, London
Volume: 5C; Page: 162

There are no James H Bonney births in the GRO, 1888 to 1900.

Hi, DS.

The death ticks the boxes.

I would really like a "like" button on the forum. Just wanted to say how great I think you guys do finding results with the minimum to start with. Well done!

Bertieone wrote:Marriage,

Mary A Tinker, James Mooney,
1917, Oldham,
8d 1027

Sadly this death fits....
MARY A MOONEY
Age at death: 47
Year 1919; Sep qtr:
Year of birth: 1872
District: OLDHAM; Volume: 8D; Page: 569

With James H Bonney dying just up the road in Camberwell, possible marriage,


Marriages Sep 1927

Bonney James H, Donovan Ethel M, Lambeth 1d 441

http://www.lancashirebmd.org.uk has the Tinker/Mooney marriage as Oldham Register Office or Registrar Attended.

Bertieone wrote:With James H Bonney dying just up the road in Camberwell, possible marriage,


Marriages Sep 1927

Bonney James H, Donovan Ethel M, Lambeth 1d 441

Anc has James Henry Bonney, age 28, father - Thomas Bonney
married Ethel Marion Donovan at St. John, Brixton, Surrey on 24th July 1927.

Possible child: Edith J Bonney, born Sep quarter 1928, Lambeth. Mother's maiden name - Donovan.

Karen wrote:Anc has James Henry Bonney, age 28, father - Thomas Bonney
married Ethel Marion Donovan at St. John, Brixton, Surrey on 24th July 1927.

Possible child: Edith J Bonney, born Sep quarter 1928, Lambeth. Mother's maiden name - Donovan.

It looks as though James Bonney assumed that the 'adopting' parents who were looking after him in 1901 were his real parents, the father being the head of the Bonney couple that Margie posted....

THOMAS JAS BONNEY HEAD 54 1847 KNOCKER UP - WIGAN, LANCASHIRE
Address: OFF HIGH STREET, NEWTON IN MAKERFIELD, Lancs
RG13 Piece 3575 Folio 90 Page 4

Can't make a connection to a James Henry birth with Bonney or a Tally or *lly surname, so perhaps he was a foundling?

A huge thank you to everyone for finding the 3 children, will look at all the information you have found my first thoughts are these are the 3 " adopted children "

Happy Easter to you all.

Margie