Left at the wheel

In the 1800s every town of any size had at least one foundling hospital. This was a place usually connected to a church or convent that took in babies whose parents were unable to raise them. Often the child was born out of wedlock, but sometimes there were other reasons. At these institutions there was often an opening in the wall with a wheel with a vertical divider. Someone would place the  baby on the wheel, rotate the wheel, and ring a bell.  Someone on the inside would take the baby from the wheel and begin taking care of him or her. This was called "putting the baby on the wheel." The nuns or a priest would name the baby and take custody. Unfortunately, the majority of these children died very young. My great-great-great grandfather was a foundling who lived a long life and founded a large family. He also left me with what genealogists call a "brick wall." My hope of finding earlier ancestors in his line is virtually non-existent.