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Hello there, I'm trying to track down Harry Bamforth born in 1899 in Huddersfield. I found him on the 1901 census with his parents and sibling but he was adopted at some point by my Great Grandparents. He appears on the 1911 census and is listed as Harry Bamforth - adoptive son, still under his own name and not Bull. Unfortunately my Grandma would never really talk about Harry (she really didn't like him) so neither me nor my parents/uncle know anything more than this, other than he had a son named Gerald at some point. Can anyone give me advice on how I go about solving this little mystery? Is it possible to access adoption records from this period in time, if such a thing exists?
Thanks in advance
Suzanne

There were no official adoptions until 1927 or so. Have you looked for a marriage for him? You don't say, but I assume he adopted the Bull name at some point? Do you know if he had a second name?
Jan

Adoption wasn't a legal procedure until the 1920's..............and records are not publicly available,

Official adoption didn't start until 1927 so anything before that would be classed as an informal arrangement with no records kept.

There was actually a case similar to this on today's "Heir Hunters" programme. The adoptive family had a letter written by the child's mother giving up all rights to the child and handing her over to the adoptive parents. This letter was arranged and signed at a solicitors office. However the courts would still not recognise this as an "official" adoption because no such thing existed at that time.

Kath. x

When was his birth registered? Did he have more than one forename?

Harry D Bamforth
England and Wales Census, 1901
birth: 1899 — Huddersfield, Yorkshire
christening:
baptism:
death:
burial:
residence: 31 Mar 1901 — Huddersfield, Yorkshire (West Riding), England
parents:
spouse:
child:
marriage:

record title: England and Wales Census, 1901
name: Harry D Bamforth
event: Census
event date: 31 Mar 1901
age: 2
relationship to head of household: Son
birthplace: Huddersfield, Yorkshire
record type: Household
registration district: Huddersfield
sub-district: Huddersfield
ecclesiastical parish: St John
civil parish: Huddersfield
county: Huddersfield, Huddersfield, Huddersfield, Yorkshire (West Riding)

1901 for INFO

Name: Harry D Bamforth
Age: 2
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1899
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Joe Bamforth
Mother's Name: Emily Bamforth
Gender: Male
Where born: Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England

Civil parish: Huddersfield
Ecclesiastical parish: St John
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England


Registration district: Huddersfield
Sub-registration district: Huddersfield
ED, institution, or vessel: 28
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 82
Household Members: Name Age
Joe Bamforth 24
Emily Bamforth 34
Harry D Bamforth 2
Emily Bamforth 11 Months

What age was he on 1911 census ?

Choice of 3

Births Mar 1899
Bamforth Harold - Huddersfield 9a 335

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Births Sep 1899
Bamforth Harry Elijah - Huddersfield 9a 263

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Births Mar 1900 ............(possibly born late 1899)
Bamforth Harry - Huddersfield 9a 260

connection maybe?

Geo W Bamforth
England and Wales Census, 1901
birth: 1878 — Huddersfield
christening:
baptism:
death:
burial:
residence: 31 Mar 1901 — Hepworth, Yorkshire (West Riding), England
parents:
spouse:
child:
marriage:

record title: England and Wales Census, 1901
name: Geo W Bamforth
event: Census
event date: 31 Mar 1901
age: 23
relationship to head of household: Adopted
birthplace: Huddersfield
record type: Household
registration district: Huddersfield
sub-district: New Mill
ecclesiastical parish: Hepworth
civil parish: Hepworth
county: Huddersfield, New Mill, Hepworth, Yorkshire (West Riding)

Further INFO

Births Sep 1898 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bamforth Harry Dixon Huddersfield 9a 350

This could be Harry D - born 1898


Births Sep 1898
Bamforth Harry Dixon - Huddersfield 9a 350

Having his full name makes a difference

Name: Harry Dixon Bamforth
Birth Date: 24 Aug 1898
Death Registration Month/Year: 1980
Registration district: Coventry
Inferred County: West Midlands
Volume: 33
Page: 0333

Re. Mike's question - here is the 1911:

BULL, N R B Head Married M 39 1872 Teamer Lancashire Catcliffe VIEW
BULL, Sarah Ann Wife Married
16 years F 36 1875 Yorkshire Huddersfield VIEW
BAMFORTH, Harry Adoopted Son M 12 1899 School Yorkshire Huddersfield VIEW
BULL, Edith Daughter F 4 1907 Yorkshire Huddersfield VIEW
RG number:
RG14 Piece:
26269 Reference:
RG14PN26269 RG78PN1519 RD495 SD6 ED16 SN45

Registration District:
Huddersfield Sub District:
Almondbury Enumeration District:
16 Parish:
Dalton

Address:
108 Storthes Moldgreen Huddersfield County:
Yorkshire (West riding)

Marriages Dec 1924 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bamforth Harry D Coles Coventry 6d 1462
Coles Agnes H Bamforth Coventry 6d 1462

Births Jun 1926 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bamforth Gerald D Coles Coventry 6d 1154

Can't see a birth for Gerald Bamforth with mmn Coles

Oops !
Start the car !

Wow you are all so quick! This is the record I have of him - I'm pretty sure it's him based on his age in this census.

Registration district: Huddersfield
Sub-registration district: Huddersfield
ED, institution, or vessel: 28
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 82
Household Members: Name Age
Joe Bamforth 24
Emily Bamforth 34
Harry D Bamforth 2
Emily Bamforth 11 Months

I also know they're on the 1911 census but the site is playing up, I'll post that too.

1911 is above Suzanne.

Don't bother.............it's already been done

And you've been given his birth, marriage and death...and his son's birth