Adoption of Iva Virginia Hunter b18 Aug 1920 Charleston WV USA

Question

bp  Charleston, West Virginia, USA

adoptive parents Lillie Mae and William Watkins both of Charleston, WV., USA

Comments

Dear Carol,

   Iva is listed as daughter of William H & Lillie M Watkins in the 1930 census of Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia.  So she was adopted as a child.  

   Could the H in William's name stand for Hunter?  Is this an in-family adoption? Just trying to get some ideas for you.  -NGP 

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His name was William Henry Watkins.  I really don't know much about my Mom's adoption because it was never talked about.  I am not sure about the time she was adopted,, but I posted a photo of my Mom & Grandmother and she looks to be around four.  

Thank you for for your suggestion.

Answer 1

I have ordered mother's birth certificate and the parents listed are William Watkins and Lillie Cooper.  I was very close to them until their deaths.  I talked to an attorney in West Virginia and he told me I would have to ask the court to open the sealed adoption records for $150.00.  I thought since the child plus adoptive parents are deceased I might be able to find out myself.

 

I have had my DNA done and it shows I do have Cooper and Toney and they are from my grandmother's family names.  

Mother thought she was adopted from the Davis Child Shelter in WV but after talking to them they had no records of her being there.