Stolen babies, unwed mothers

[Zurdo]

On my mother's side of the family, the babies were adopted out...gone. My Grandfather wanted nothing to do with them, just another mouth to feed. Even the orphaned children of his oldest son...just gone. I have a cousin who found out he was adopted when he was 59, and tracked us down, and also found he had a brother, also adopted out. My mother used to write all the time to her sisters, in Taumarunui, Te Awamutu and Tokanui...I thought Tokanui was just another town. After having both her children taken, she lived most of her life in Tokanui, and died there.

On my father's side, the illegitimate children were absorbed into the family. When my Grandfather's oldest sister had a baby, she was brought up as his younger sister. When the older sister wanted to leave home, and take her daughter, my Great Grandfather said ''No, I brought her up as my daughter, so she stays here, as my daughter.''

Two different approaches from Irish families.