by Laurel | September 14th, 2009
September 14, 1905, page 4
Mr. and Mrs. Purinton of Colrain Get Custody of Jamrock Child.
Judge Thompson of the Franklin county probate court yesterday filed his decree on the petition of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse M. Purinton of Colrain for the adoption of Kate, the nine-years-old daughter of Mary Jamrock, now of Holyoke, and for a change of name. The child had been with the Purintons several years, having been placed in their family after the Chicopee municipal court had turned the child over to the board. Two hearings were held on the petition. Judge Thompson says in his decree “It is decreed that from this day said child, to all legal intents and purposes, shall be the child of the petitioners, and that her name be changed to that of Kate Margaret Purinton, which she shall hereafter bear, and which shall be her legal name.” The child has found a good home with Mr. and Mrs. Purinton whi became much attached to her, and wished to adopt here. She was taken away by the agents of the state board of charity because of a rule recently adopted, which is in substance that the children under care of the state shall be placed in families of the same religious faith as the parents. The decree of the probate court does not change the custody of the child, who is now with the state board. The case will probably go to the supreme court.
Judge Thompson says in his decree that the parent has suffered the child to be supported for over two years by the commonwealth prior to the petition, that notice of said petition has been given to the state board of charity, who appeared by the attorney-general and did not assent or object to the adoption. Continuing, Judge Thompson says that Mary Jamrock appears by her attorney, and objects to the adoption. The board of charity has had custody of the child for more than five years, the child having been committed to the board by a competent court of jurisdiction. Although the mother of the child is of different religious faith from the petitioners, the state board of charity placed the child in the family of the petitioners who have had the custody of the child during the greater part of the time she has been in the care of the board. The court finds that the adoption will be for the welfare of the child. The petitioners were represented by Frederick L. Greene, the mother by C. F. Donnelley and John D. McLaughlin and the state board by Archibald Marshall, an assistant to the attorney general.
From The Springfield Republican.
