The history of foundlings in Tournai is relatively well known, and several local historians have written about it.
Hoverlant (a Tournai lawyer and justice of the peace, known for the enormous work he bequeathed, entitled "Essai chronologique pour servir à l'histoire de Tournai" from Julius Caesar to the 18th century, in 114 volumes!) left us the memory of a ruling by the Tournai Parliament, dated 22 November 1683,
A number of Tournai's foundlings went on to achieve a degree of fame, including the sculptor and man of letters Eugène EREBE and the popular Alexis SARAGOSSE.
These foundlings were entrusted to "foster fathers and mothers", who saw this above all as an opportunity to make extra money. This was a long-standing practice and, as you can imagine, was open to abuse.
In addition to the city of Tournai itself, the main towns that took in foundlings were Rumes, Taintignies, Vaulx and Esplechin.
(source: Les enfants trouvés à Tournai dans la première moitié du XIXe siècle, by A. MILET)
digitisation of the registers was carried out by gérard jeance at the musée de folklore in 2006 for geniwaltournaisis
The history of foundlings in Tournai
