Lemon
All you get to see on the index to birth register is the name of the child listed in alphabetical order ( though some are hand written in at the foot of the page). the maiden name of the mother, which if the child is illegitimate and no father stands up to be recognised. will be the same as the child's surname, the registration district the birth was registered in (always the same as the district where the took place) and the Volume number and page number. Twins would usually have consecutive numbers in the same volume. But twins will not appear consecutively on the Index unless their first names are similar enough for them to be in alphabetical order. That is all you will get from the indexes on 1837online.
To get any more information on an individual birth you have to buy the birth certificate. The birth certificate will tell you the full name of the child including middle names, the exact date of birth and in the case of twins the exact time of birth, the place at which the birth took place, the full name usual address and occupation if any of the mother, the name address and occupation of the father if known, the name and address and qualification of the person registering the birth (usually the mother) and the name or the registrar. If the child has since been adopted the certificate will have "Adopted" and the name of the superintendent registrar making the alteration, in the right-hand margin.
Certificates cost at least 7 uk pounds each, more if they have to do any looking up.
It would be better from your point of view if they were born in a maternity home or mother & baby home, there might then be some chance of a record of where they were released to.
It might in any case be worthwhile asking the London Metropolitan Archive if they have any record of events, but they might not be able to tell you whether they have or not unless you can give them names and a date of birth.
Records for M&Bs and for some defunct adoption societies and old London borough adoption records as well as many records from the old county of Middlesex pre boundary change, can be found at the London Metropolitan Archive see:
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/leisu...ives_museums_g alleries/lma/
for a list of downloadable leaflets see·
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/leisu...ives_museums_g alleries/lma/information_leaflets.htm
They also apparently have a Family History Research Service, for users who are unable to visit in person. See:
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/famil...arch/index.htm
But, the charge for a search will be calculated at a rate of £24.00 (£20.43 plus VAT) per hour. This will include charges for report writing, postage and administration, prices might be out of date.
As you say this really is going to be a complicated mystery, but I don't see why it should not be solvable, you have more to go on than I started out with. Only advantage I had was being a bit closer to London, but at least the indexes are now on the Internet.
I was the seventh and last (as far as I know) of my mothers children to be adopted. I've found all of them, one sadly died before I found him, I've also found the three surviving of her four kept kids. So obviously I'm going to answer yes when you ask me do I "think its right of me to do this?".
I really do hope you find them, if you've any other questions don't hesitate to ask. If you want access to a lot more, I hope, equally helpful people then can I again suggest that you join NORCAP
http://www.norcap.org.uk which is the charity organisation that I work for on a voluntary basis.
All the best
Robin