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Orphan Number: 4763
Orphan: John RUSSELL
Mother:RUSSELL, Annie
Father:RUSSELL, George
Mother's ship:
Father's ship:
Age when admitted:9yrs
Date admitted:7 Jun 1871
Date discharged:
Institution(s):Queens Orphan School
Discharged to:
Remarks: not admitted Queens Orphan School, but temporary allowance of 15/- week - father deserted, mother in prison
References: SWD26/12, 27


This orphan has been claimed by: LINDA JANE FLETCHER

Ann Russell first applied for the admission of her son, William, aged 4, to the Queen’s Asylum for Destitute Children in October 1865.  His mother, Ann Russell, was in the Cascade Factory under sentence. She was Protestant and described as ‘native’. William was illegitimate and no details of his father were recorded. According to the admission application, William was born on 31 January 1862 and was baptised by Rev. Dr. Parsons. He was 3 years 8 months and 13 days when the application for his admission as made.[1] Additional information was supplied by R. Atkins, Superintendent of the Cascades Female Factory, on 13 October 1865:

[1] TA, SWD26/1/8 [Image 516-517].

This application was not successful and Ann was directed to apply for temporary relief from the Benevolent Society when she left the Female Factory.

A second application was made in the name of John Russell.  On 5 June 1871, application was made for the admission to the Queen’s Asylum of John Russell, illegitimate son of Annie Russell. John’s date of birth was given as 31 January 1862 and he was baptised ‘in Cascades’. His father was stated to be George [Horgann?], a seafarer, who was ‘at sea’; no other details about him were known. Annie Russell, a native of Tasmania, was under sentence. She was Protestant.[1]

Annie was serving a sentence of four months from 31 January 1871.

[1] TA, SWD26/1/2 John Russell [Image 140].

It seems likely that John Russell was, in fact, William Russell, and that he was known as William in the Queen’s Asylum.

Research provided by Dianne Snowden.



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