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Hello All! I haven't been here in awhile, but I'm back on my search for my bparents. I am wondering if anyone out there has experience dealing with St Vincent's Home for Unwed Mothers in PA. My bmom spent a short time there in 1950. After that, she lived in an apt paid for by my amom until my birth 6-5-50 at St Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia. Are there any other gray-market babies on this list who would like to chat with me? My impression is that there should be many, many of us born at St Joseph's in that time period.
My obstetrician was Dr. John Lawler. I would love to find others with similar stories so that we could work together to track down information.
My story: briefly!
Bmom, Barbara, was 19, unmarried. Bfather not willing to marry.Bmom was Catholic from New Jersey, father may have been politically involved in New Jersey. She lived in St. Vincents' a short while. Mutual friend introduced her to my future Amom, Marie. Agreement made privately for Amom to pay for apt and medical expences with me being given to her immediately after release from hospital. Dr. Lawler facilitated Barbara entering hospital under name of Amom and signing BC as that person. (forged signature of amom).
No official adoption was done. BC remains original and false.
One person, my uncle, knows who my bmom is but won't tell me! Amom and Dad or now deceased.
Would appreciate any advice, information, input anyone is willing to share with me.
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I was adopted out in the Courts of Media, PA March 2, 1950 I was born as Joan Farley January 25,1946 in Philadelphia, PA location being 70 & Woodlawn Ave., Phila., PA Later learned it was St. Vincents Hospital that was there. The doctor who delivered me was Dr. Shaeffer. The priest who baptized me January 29,1946 was Father Sullivan. I am dearly seeking my long lost Farley Family. Please, if you have any clues do contact me. Thank you. joan-farley@excite.com
Joan Farley
Hello there : ) I would love for you to share your birth story with my mother. She was the one born Jan.1946 at St.Vincent's hospital and would want to share her story as well. I'm trying desperately to find any information I can. We have made some lead way with contacting cousins etc. some refused to say a word while others have listened and have given us some information.
I actaully live in Philadelphia and last month I went down to 70th and Woodland Ave. ,The hospital was torn down but they have a decent looking homeless shelter placed in the very spot the hospital was. I took photographs since the scenery on the outside area was still the same. Photos of the trees,etc. then paid a visit to the catholic Church that had my mothers baptismal record. After St.Vincent's was torn down the record went to St.Clemments at 7104 Woodland. after St.Clemmens was torn down the records went to this other Parish around the corner. In the past my mother only got a copy with her adopted name on it but I gave the nun my mothers birth name and she gave me her original baptismal record. Although the record didn't have her parent's names on it,we've always suspected and it has been confirmed that her father asked his sister to adopt my mom. But it was never to be known. What I'm wondering is most likely the nuns baptized you before you left the hospital, if there was no adoption then what was the last name you were born with? What names do you have?
my mother lives in St.Louis,MO right now but please email her so she won't feel alone in this endevour... her email is : starlight_afar@myway.com and her name is Pauline
My name is Stephanie Hipple and I am searching for my birth mother Mary Elizabeth Hipple who went through St. Vincent's Home For Unwed Mothers in 1953. Do you know if the mothers had to be under the age of 21? The answer to this question can help me narrow down the age of my birth mother? Thank you. stephhipple@hotmail.com
I am searching for niece born at st.vincent's april or may 1950.When my mother went to bring my sister and baby home nuns told her it's too late my sister turned 21 May 19 and they had her sign papers and took baby away.No one ever spoke about it but it has always been on my mind.I have had 2 girls contact me but without any info nothing can be certain.So i just pray something may turn up. luck to you
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st vincents not cooperative. actually paid them $50 to get info, which they refused. Born thru St Vincents april 24, 1952, birth certificate said Teresa Marie Wood. I've hit a dead end all these years. Sounds like you have been struggling too.
actually heard from gentleman who knew my sister he was born around same time but was not adopted.My sister made friends with his mother and lived with them when he was about 6.He was too young to remember anything else.His mom as passed away as did my sister,but i still want to find my niece.
My mom was born at this hospital in 1927. She searched her whole life looking for her biological mother with no luck. The nuns were very reluctant to give her any kind of information. One nun however gave her some tidbits of information she said was on some notes that happened to be saved. She gave her the name of her bmother but gave her the wrong last name. She also gave her the names of her bmother's one sister and a couple of brothers, their age at the time of my moms birth. She also gave her her bmother's mothers name. My mom died in 1988 without ever having found her bmother. I took up the search this past February and with the help of a genealogist she was able to come up with a different last name. In the end all the information my mom was able to gather fell into place and I believe I have found my mom's half sister and the rest of her family. Truly amazing. The sad part is her bmom died in December 1989, my mom would have had 21 months with her bmother had she found her. My mom's name at birth was either Nadia or Faith Pawk/Pawuk. She was told Paverk. She was put into two foster homes by Catholic Social Services before she turned 6. At that age she was placed with the family who eventually adopted her. I would love to find these two homes she was in. If anyone has any information please reply.
dont know if you are in the philadelphia area but if not and need a body here in this area to go somewhere and get a question answered just let me know & I will see what I can do!
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Hello there!
I had forgotten about this site and just now relocated it and read your very kind letter! I hope that you are still reachable! I just wrote to your mother,if her email address is still good as listed below. I would love to communicate with both of you. I do hope that she has had better success than I at searching!
Would you be able to give me the contact information for the agency that now hold the "old" records from St. Vincent's in 1950?
My birth name was: Brenda Marsha Schneider. My bMom was Catholic and perhaps I WAS baptised. Would there be records for that still available?
Thank you so much for your kind reply and I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Brenda Taylor
530 320-8402
JoanFarley1946
Hello there : ) I would love for you to share your birth story with my mother. She was the one born Jan.1946 at St.Vincent's hospital and would want to share her story as well. I'm trying desperately to find any information I can. We have made some lead way with contacting cousins etc. some refused to say a word while others have listened and have given us some information.
I actaully live in Philadelphia and last month I went down to 70th and Woodland Ave. ,The hospital was torn down but they have a decent looking homeless shelter placed in the very spot the hospital was. I took photographs since the scenery on the outside area was still the same. Photos of the trees,etc. then paid a visit to the catholic Church that had my mothers baptismal record. After St.Vincent's was torn down the record went to St.Clemments at 7104 Woodland. after St.Clemmens was torn down the records went to this other Parish around the corner. In the past my mother only got a copy with her adopted name on it but I gave the nun my mothers birth name and she gave me her original baptismal record. Although the record didn't have her parent's names on it,we've always suspected and it has been confirmed that her father asked his sister to adopt my mom. But it was never to be known. What I'm wondering is most likely the nuns baptized you before you left the hospital, if there was no adoption then what was the last name you were born with? What names do you have?
my mother lives in St.Louis,MO right now but please email her so she won't feel alone in this endevour... her email is : starlight_afar@myway.com and her name is Pauline
Someone suggested to me that I write to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and ask them for a sacramental record for my mom to make sure the name she was given when baptized. That letter will be mailed tomorrow. I doubt I hear anything. I have written to St Vincents for information and I have called them twice all with no luck. They give me the song and dance that the person who handles that was out sick and now she has a great deal of work to catch up on. Same story they gave my mom. At least I found her family but there are things I would like to know. If I hear anything I will reply.
I received a reply to my letter asking for a sacramental document and you guessed it, their records do not go back to the 1920's. According to PA law adoption records may be destroyed after 50 years. They did suggest if my mom was baptized at St Vincents I should contact Rev Olivere in Philadelphia for a Baptismal Certificate. Letter was mailed today. We shall see.
aquarius25
I received a reply to my letter asking for a sacramental document and you guessed it, their records do not go back to the 1920's. According to PA law adoption records may be destroyed after 50 years. They did suggest if my mom was baptized at St Vincents I should contact Rev Olivere in Philadelphia for a Baptismal Certificate. Letter was mailed today. We shall see.
Thank you for your comments and information about contacting Rev Olivere. This is the first information I've gotten on whom to contact for St. Vincent's baptisim information. Would you please send me the address you used?
Thanks so much! And the best of luck in your search. Love to hear what you receive from him.
Brenda
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Brenda
The address you want is
Rev Michael Olivere
Divine Mercy Rectory
67th and Chester Avenue
Philadelphis PA 19142
hope you get some answers
good luck
Hello, my name is Lauren and I'm 100% new to this site so I apologize if I'm not posting this in the correct spot...My whole life I've wondered who my real grandparents are. I am so much like my father and wonder how much I resemble my grandparents who I've not only never seen, but never head anything about. I just found out yesterday that he was born at St. Vincents. I'm terrified of asking my grandmother any information b/c I dont want her to feel hurt. I'm hoping desperately to find answers from this site. I'm not exactly 100% sure, but I believe I overheard that my fathers real mother (or fathers) name was Hoffbauer. I'm not even sure if the spelling is correct. My grandparents last name who adopted my father is Hart. They are from Drexel Hill. Please email me if any of these names ring a bell. Or, if you have any advice on where to seek aditional help with my search. I cry a lot wondering if I'll ever find them, or if I'll ever know anything about them. I just want answers. I want to know my heritage. I atleast want to know if I have my grandmothers smile. Thank you so much for your help!! My email address is Laurenmarie929@hotmail.com.