This is deeply saddening.
"Unmarried mothers without family support or independent financial means
could be held in Mental Institutions on the pretext that they were
morally deficient. Their babies were taken from them and placed for
adoption, but the mothers remained forcibly detained."
A snip from the book linked to at the bottom of the page.
"
Poor Law practice discriminated against them, judging them to be a
particularly wanton example of self-induced poverty. Unmarried mothers
were sometimes given less food in workhouses than married women, and
if they had a second illegitimate child they might be forced to wear
distinguishing
gowns as part of their disgrace.78 As with other paupers, many
were forcibly returned to their original home area under the settlement
laws. In desperation the babies were often abandoned, sold or even
murdered.
"
"
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