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Union Workhouse
| Profile | Posted by | Options | Post Date |
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fraserbooks | Report | 18 Apr 2006 14:37 |
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There are several reasons besides poverty why people might be in a workhouse. Some also served as the local free hospital. Disabled children were often sent to the workhouse if both parents worked. Children may be there temporily if parents were ill. The work houses were also major employers. I have found ancestors as doctors or nurses. |
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Phoenix | Report | 18 Apr 2006 13:36 |
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If the records survive for an individual workhouse - and it is pot-luck whether they do or not - you can find out all sorts of details about the individuals admitted. My friend's ancestor was in the workhouse because her husband had disappeared and she could not support herself and her two small boys. We found out her age, where she had lived, when she married (several years after the birth of the first child and miles away from where either lived) her husband's employer, with address and how long he had worked there, etc etc. The information will vary according to circumstances, but it's well worth looking for. |
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Linda | Report | 18 Apr 2006 12:58 |
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Thanks Marlene Like you I was shocked to find this out and wondered why her family let this happen or that she was some kind of criminal or pauper. But I am beginning to understand a little bit more about Union Workhouses now. Linda |
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Marlene | Report | 17 Apr 2006 08:56 |
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Hi Linda. I have recently discovered one of my ancestors was in the Chorlton Union Workhouse. I was shocked at first as his wife and children were living in a house on the other side of town. I also wondered what he was doing there. I looked up this workhouse on the internet and I found some wonderful information about it and also lots of pictures. It was explained that some people with terminal illness were sent to these workhouses to be nursed as a lot of them were also hospitals. This turned out to be true in my case as the ancestor died a few months later with tuberculosis and was then living back with his wife and family. Hope this helps. Marlene |
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Linda | Report | 17 Apr 2006 06:24 |
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Thanks Tony, will check it out Linda |
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TonyOz | Report | 17 Apr 2006 04:29 |
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Hi Linda. If you copy/paste this link, it may explain to you a little something about 'Poor Law' and Workhouse's. Cheers. Tony Oz http://users.ox.ac.uk/~peter/workhouse/ |
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Researching: |
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Linda | Report | 17 Apr 2006 04:16 |
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Hi Can anyone tell me if and how I could find out details of why a person would be in the workhouse. Thanks |
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