Ivy Rose (Huskisson) - Adopted

The following is an extract from my Father's book, 'Among My Souvenirs' and relates to the adoption of Ivy Rose.

"…This ultimately led them (May and Harry) to the Well-House institution, a workhouse at Barnet. May (Harry's wife) and her sisters Lilly and Edie went there first to establish the adoption procedure, it being simpler in those days though it would entail considerable form filling etc. There were several children available and when May and Harry went together they spotted a little baby girl sitting alone in the corner of a largish room.

They learned that her mother was named Florence Rose, and had been deserted by the father of her seven children some seven years earlier, they having until then been living together as man and wife, but being unmarried, she and her children had to go into the institution.

She was basically of very good character, until she was unfortunately made pregnant and then abandoned. The man involved was Ivy's father. Her birth certificate shows his surname to be Rose also, perhaps only for the registrar's convenience, or maybe he and Florence had actually married before he absconded.

Her other children were very nice, well conducted and cared for, prior to coming under the care of their guardians.

After the formalities, May and Harry became the legal parents of Ivy, the little child they'd chosen and she now had the new name of Ivy, Rose, Huskisson (a convenient name adjustment). She had been born on the 10th of January 1919, and adopted at 2,30 p.m. on the 2nd of July 1921."

During the 2nd World War, Ivy was called up for The Auxiliary Territorial Service (now known as The Women's Royal Army Corps). Initially she was stationed in Durham, but was soon transferred to an army base in Feltham, Middlesex. She was soon elevated to rank of Lance Corporal.

Ivy married her cousin, George William Charles Leggett (born September 7, 1909, and son of George Arthur Leggett and Alma Frances Annie (nee Huskisson), on November 24, 1945. George was a master chef and at some time worked in the kitchen of the House Of Commons. He was also a Freemason, having been recommended by his Uncle Arthur Greener (husband of Annie Laurie Grace "Elsie Dolly" Huskisson.

George and Ivy never had children, and George died on August 27, 1984.

Ivy was keen to learn about her natural parents and siblings, but sadly, at the time of writing (August 2006), they have still not been verified. Ivy passed away on December 17, 2005 at Windermere Rest Home, Southend-on-Sea, Essex.