A 19th Century Adoption

     Carlos Webster Childs, my great-grandfather, was the adopted son of James Webster Childs and Lucy Amarilla Hubbard.  J. Webster and Lucy were originally from Henniker, New Hampshire. They settled to Michigan, in 1848, having followed

J. Webster's older brothers, Aaron, Ira and Josiah. The brothers were already established in Augusta Township in Washtenaw County, Michigan, and involved in farming and various township and county politics.  J. Webster soon followed in their footsteps.  He eventually served in the Michigan State Legislature as a representative from 1859 to 1862, and as a senator for several terms between 1865 and 1880. 

           J. Webster Childs (June 16, 1826 - Nov 8, 1882)
             Lucy A. Hubbard (Sept 13, 1825 - July 2, 1902)

     J. Webster and Lucy were unable to have children of their own. They worked with the American Female Guardian Society and the Home for the Friendless, in New York City to adopt a child.  The following are letters received from the Society in New York. The Childs' were concerned that their efforts to adopt were taking longer than anticipated:

                                             

                                                                                                                        

                                                                                January 10, 1856

                "J. Webster Childs, Dear Sir, 

              I was surprised on receiving your letter yesterday to learn you has [sic] received no communication regarding the little boy that was designed for you.  One was selected to be send, but a few days previous to the time of the company leaving the little one was taken quite sick and has since had a running sore in his ear and an eruption that seems difficult to cure. I hope an opportunity will present within a few months to send someone to you but do not think we can during the cold weather. In the hurry & bustle of sending a company of 40 children the oversight or misunderstanding occurred of your not being informed. I think Mrs. Penfield must have thought she was not to write unless she took a child.

             When another opportunity presents to send to you I will write you, I rec'd a letter from Mrs. P. a few days since, saying one of her little ones was still unprovided for, but is much younger than applied for. His name is (crossed out), was born the 10th of last June, is a large, healthy, happy, noble looking child.

              I will write Mrs. Penfield today, and should you feel inclined to take so young a child, feel certain that you will never regret taking Johnny. If you will take him - address Mrs. P.P. Penfield, care of S. H. Ferrier, Galesburg, Knox Co. Ill. and she will make arrangements to have him taken to you.   

                                    Yours very respectfully,  E.A. Campbell, Children's Society."

                                                                      Galesburg, Ill.  Jan 16, 1857

                "Ja's Webster Childs, Dear Sir,

              I have just rec'd yours of the 2nd inst. to Miss E. A. Campbell, concerning the little boy that was designed for you. The child being too sick to come with me, I did not think it worthwhile to write to you, supposing that, Miss C. would notify you of the facts in the case.

                If you should decide to take Johnny will you not have the kindness to give me directions concerning the nearest route to your residence.  Johnny is well & I should be very happy to bring him to you.                                                                                 

                    Yours Respectfully, R.P. Penfield, care of S.H. Ferris, Galesburg, Knox, Ill."

     Finally, a son is sent to the Childs family and the adoption and/or indenture is legalized.  The original papers, passed down to me, were worded:

             “Indenture of John O’Neil, adopted by James W. Childs of Augusta, Washtenaw Co., Mich.  June 26^th /58.” 

Thus, John O'Neil became Carlos Webster Childs.

                      Carlos Webster Childs

     Carlos, was named after an older brother of J. Webster’s who remained in New Hampshire. Family legend is that this first Carlos, born in 1813, was named after a Spanish Diplomat and friend of the Childs family. The name Carlos has been used in every generation of the Childs and/or Beckington family since then, except the current generation.

     The words adoption and indenture are used again in the document as noted in the portion of the original document shown below. Additionally, the papers contain only the signature of J. Webster so the conclusion is that only he adopted the child, not Lucy. In 1858, this was probably not unusual. Carlos did inherit from his adoptive parents, so in their eyes he was their son. He was eighteen months of age when he arrived at their home in Michigan.

The next image is of a section of the original papers:

                                  

          

            The above is part of the original document conveying adoption/indenture to the Childs family.

     Some people wonder why the term indenture is used along with adoption. The following definition was found on the Orphan Train Heritage Society website  

        Isn't Adoption and Indenture the same thing?
             When a child is adopted, he becomes equal to the natural children in all respects-including inheritance. Indenture was a legal means to remove a child from an unsatisfactory home without a long court procedure. The child was not given inheritance rights. People tended to use the two terms interchangeably but they are not the same thing. Many people simply did not know the difference.

                                                             

          American Female Guardian Society and the Home for the Friendless, No. 32 East Thirtieth Street, in New York City

     A hand written note (below) included in the papers handed down, states his original name was John O’Neil and he was born on July 10,1856. It indicates that the mother, possibly named Ann or Ellen O’Neil, probably unmarried and newly in the country from Ireland, left him with a wet nurse, Mrs. Margaret Little, in New York City.  John’s mother said she would be back, but never returned. 
      Next are several letters transcribed that were received after the adoption was completed and Carlos is growing up in his new home. Taking the letters in my files chronologically with the earliest dated January 10, 1856 and addressed to Mr. Childs.

On March 6, 1863, the Childs family received the following questionnaire:

    Mr. Childs:

      Dear Sir, The Managers of the "A. F. G. Society" and "Home for the Friendless," desire a reply to the following queries relative to the children under your care:

                 1. What is the state of their health?

                 2. Do they go to School?

                 3. What progress have they made in their studies during the

                          last year?

                 4. Do they attend Church and S. School regularly?

                 5. What is their general deportment?

     Especially do they wish to know the religious condition of their scattered flock. Any particulars concerning said child will be thankfully received by all their friends at the "Home"*

     Please write the original name of the child in full in your communications and their new names, if they have any. 

                                              Mrs. R. P. Penfield, Children's Secretary

*By reference to our By-Laws you will observe that the above enquiries should be made and answered annually until the child is of age.

     This was a printed form, but hand-written changes were made to make enquiries for two children, rather than just one. Carlos had a sister, Mary Ann, who was born on August 2,1858, and also came from the "Home" in New York.

     Again, inquiries are made, and one assumes they were sent a questionnaire every year.

                                                                August 28, 1871

        Mr. & Mrs. Childs, Dear friends,

                  Will you favor us with a report from John O'Neil, our little Home boy. Is he still with you, and doing well?

                  In behalf of Ex. Com.  Yours truly,  Mrs. H.E. Brown

     The next correspondence is with the adult Carlos himself. He apparently wrote to them asking some questions.

                                                                      July 30, 1902

Mr. Carlos W. Childs,  Dear Friend, 

    Your very interesting letter rec'd. You certainly have much to be grateful for, as you review the past, and look at the days present & to come. We certainly rejoice with you in the possession of good, true daughters, and hope you will have many happy years together. The statement we made about "papers in storage" stands the same. We can not get them until we move into the New Home. There will be no charge for our services, we differ from the lawyers in that respect, we give our services gladly in every way possible.

                                           Sincerely yours, (Miss) H.M. Packard, Ass't. Sec'y

                                                New York, Dec. 1, 1902

            Mr. C.W. Childs,  Dear Friend,

          Your letter came today & I hasten to reply & enclose the adoption paper, signed by Mr. Webster. I do not think it is registered anywhere, except on our books. I also send a copy of our records, this is all we know of your parentage.  Hoping they may prove useful.  I am -

                                Yours Sincerely,  E.L. Evans, Cor. Sec.

     I have to assume that some of what I have in my files is what she sent. Note she sent him the adoption papers. She calls his father, Mr. Webster in error. I wonder why the adoption papers aren't registered anywhere? 
     Carlos attended Olivet College in Olivet, Michigan. He was enrolled in the English program for two years (1876-1878). It was here that he met his future wife, Mary Ella Hazelton. She was a student at Olivet from 1874-1878, enrolled in the "Ladies Course" and the Music Conservatory. They have no record of her graduating. They married on April 24,1878.

                                   

                               Carlos Webster Childs - Age 24           

     Carlos and Mary Ella had two daughters. Edna Ella was born on February 22, 1879 and Frances Hazelton "Hazel," on May 15, 1881. Hazel never married, but Edna, my grandmother, married Garth M. Beckington on February 28, 1906.

     Carlos died on August 5, 1912, at the age of 56, at home on 506 Congress Street, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. His obituary states he “represented the Emery Glove Company of Fort Wayne, Indiana” for fifteen years and that he died of “Paralisis Bronchilway.” He had inherited his portion of the family farm in Augusta Township and also oversaw the working of the farm during his lifetime in between his travels for the Glove Co.

     Carlos is buried in the Highland Cemetery, Ypsilanti.