Queanbeyan Age (NSW: 1867-1904) Wed 20 April 1892, pg2 - Baby Farming
Infanticide
The late 1800s saw many confirmed and countless unconfirmed cases of infanticide. This was a time where all manner of people were offering childcare and adoption for those who couldn't care for their offspring. Many of these people were unqualified to take on the task they offered.
There are many reasons mothers couldn't keep their children or were desperate to offload them to someone...anyone!
DEGREES OF ILLEGITIMACY
BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK - A child born to a couple who were 'walking out' together. This was not a drastic situation, as long as the couple eventually married. The Church was the only body to frown upon such occurrences.
GIRLS IN SERVICE - Housemaids who had been taken advantage of by the Master of the house. The girl would find herself sympathised upon and some would find her situation advantageous. She needn't worry much because she and her baby would be taken care of financially. The child could find itself in a better social position with an education and even maybe a share in the wills of rich relatives.
SILLY GIRLS - Are the ones who got pregnant by someone of their own social standing, who did not wish to marry them. The girl would be viewed as a trouble maker whilst the male however reluctant to assist would be viewed as doing the 'decent' thing by providing for the child.
FATHERS NAME 'UNKNOWN' - These girls, and their offspring, were shunned by society. They would have been better off making up a name and a fanciful story than bear the brunt of not knowing the child’s fathers name.
THE MARRIED MAN - Oh pity the wrath that was thrown on those girls who got pregnant by a married man. Not only would this girl and her child be outcast by her family, they would be banished from the whole parish.
There were fewer contraceptive options available in that era, abortion was illegal and many women were reluctant to submit themselves to illegal abortions by amateur surgeons. In England the New Poor Law Act of 1834 placed the burden of support for illegitimate children on the mothers. Most would therefore give their children up for adoption, hide them away or pay baby farmers to look after them indefinitely. Some baby farmers would even act as brokers to find someone to pay to adopt children. Single mothers were either never told about the sale of their children or agreed to such a practice only because they were either desperate for money or wanted to avoid the public shame of having their illegitimate child discovered. There was no government regulation of adoption and there were no social services, so single mothers often had little choice but to turn to baby farmers. Childcare workers did not need formal qualifications to operate. While there were trained nurses and other operators genuinely concerned for and fond of children, many were simply parents who had the time and the space in their home to take in other children. While some baby farmers maintained a reasonable standard of care, others were cruel or physically abusive to their charges. The worst operators found it far more profitable if the child in their care died. Looking after a child cost money and unscrupulous minders would conceal the death for as long as possible and keep the fees paid by mothers. Some would even resort to murder to expedite matters. In some Australian colonies, houses where children were being cared for had to be registered, but there were no standards set for the carers.
There are many reasons mothers couldn't keep their children or were desperate to offload them to someone...anyone!
DEGREES OF ILLEGITIMACY
BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK - A child born to a couple who were 'walking out' together. This was not a drastic situation, as long as the couple eventually married. The Church was the only body to frown upon such occurrences.
GIRLS IN SERVICE - Housemaids who had been taken advantage of by the Master of the house. The girl would find herself sympathised upon and some would find her situation advantageous. She needn't worry much because she and her baby would be taken care of financially. The child could find itself in a better social position with an education and even maybe a share in the wills of rich relatives.
SILLY GIRLS - Are the ones who got pregnant by someone of their own social standing, who did not wish to marry them. The girl would be viewed as a trouble maker whilst the male however reluctant to assist would be viewed as doing the 'decent' thing by providing for the child.
FATHERS NAME 'UNKNOWN' - These girls, and their offspring, were shunned by society. They would have been better off making up a name and a fanciful story than bear the brunt of not knowing the child’s fathers name.
THE MARRIED MAN - Oh pity the wrath that was thrown on those girls who got pregnant by a married man. Not only would this girl and her child be outcast by her family, they would be banished from the whole parish.
There were fewer contraceptive options available in that era, abortion was illegal and many women were reluctant to submit themselves to illegal abortions by amateur surgeons. In England the New Poor Law Act of 1834 placed the burden of support for illegitimate children on the mothers. Most would therefore give their children up for adoption, hide them away or pay baby farmers to look after them indefinitely. Some baby farmers would even act as brokers to find someone to pay to adopt children. Single mothers were either never told about the sale of their children or agreed to such a practice only because they were either desperate for money or wanted to avoid the public shame of having their illegitimate child discovered. There was no government regulation of adoption and there were no social services, so single mothers often had little choice but to turn to baby farmers. Childcare workers did not need formal qualifications to operate. While there were trained nurses and other operators genuinely concerned for and fond of children, many were simply parents who had the time and the space in their home to take in other children. While some baby farmers maintained a reasonable standard of care, others were cruel or physically abusive to their charges. The worst operators found it far more profitable if the child in their care died. Looking after a child cost money and unscrupulous minders would conceal the death for as long as possible and keep the fees paid by mothers. Some would even resort to murder to expedite matters. In some Australian colonies, houses where children were being cared for had to be registered, but there were no standards set for the carers.