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Institutionalised because pregnant out of wedlock
Profile | Posted by | Options | Post Date |
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Helen in Bucks | Report | 17 Jul 2009 19:07 |
I have a relative who (according to family stories) was institutionalised as a young woman (probably in the 1920s, possibly early 1930s or late 1910s) because she became pregnant out of wedlock. |
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RutlandBelle | Report | 17 Jul 2009 19:15 |
Unfortunately Helen this was quite common. Your relative would have been institutionalised in a Psychiatric Hospital or a unit attached to one. |
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Researching: |
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AllanC | Report | 17 Jul 2009 20:52 |
Yes, sadly it was quite common. But not universal; an aunt of mine at age 19 was seduced by the young man of the family she was in service with (this was in 1900) and got pregnant, but he (or his family) faced up to his responsibilities and paid for her to have the baby in a maternity home and then contributed to his upbringing on condition that she never revealed his name. And her (my) family were supportive too. She went on to get married and had two other children plus a stepdaughter from her husband's previous marriage. In later years she was regarded as a sympathetic adviser and confidante by the rest of the family - I certainly remember her as a really nice person. (And I found her great-granddaughter through Genes R) |
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Kate | Report | 17 Jul 2009 21:54 |
You just reminded me, Allan - we lately found out (about a year ago) that my gran's younger sister's eldest child was fathered by a GI and born in 1941 when my great-aunty was only 18. The twin of this girl who had the baby once told me my great-grandad was a very strict father so I asked my dad why (if he was a strict father) Great-grandad didn't make her give the baby up for adoption. My dad's thought was that he'd probably have been of the "you make a mistake, you live with it" mindset. |
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Jill 2011 (aka Warrior Princess of Cilla!) | Report | 17 Jul 2009 22:39 |
It's worth contacting the local Record Office for info. You should be able to get hold of records if you are a close enough relative - they will charge a fee. But start there at least. |
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Researching: |
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Helen in Bucks | Report | 18 Jul 2009 16:26 |
Hi everyone, thank you for your replies, lots of new leads to follow up so thank you again. Helen |
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Sorcha | Report | 18 Jul 2009 17:21 |
Hi Helen, |
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Helen in Bucks | Report | 19 Jul 2009 11:35 |
thank you Sorcha, will do a bit of googling and searcing on Access for Archives or whatever it is called now! |
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Bren from Oldham | Report | 19 Jul 2009 12:21 |
I worked on a Psychiatric Unit and there were some ladies who had been there for several years because they had a child out of wedlock. One of them had a mentally handicapped child and the child had been placed in another unit Until the childs death she was allowed to visit it once a year |
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Eileen | Report | 19 Jul 2009 13:15 |
They didn't just have to be pregnant,just an embarrassment to the family. As a radiographer i treated a very intelligent old lady who had gone to Paris to study art. Family disapproved and she was brought back and "put away".I read through her notes,and it was appalling! Eileen |
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Helen in Bucks | Report | 20 Jul 2009 10:45 |
thanks again to everyone who replied |