Genealogy Chat

Hi Andy and Jan,
Having tracked down a death certificate of the person I believe to be my great grandfather, it appears that he died in the workhouse (as stated on the certificate) of EXHAUSTION! Nevertheless Andy, I forgive your paternal grandparents!! Thanks again for your help last night.

That sounds interesting Andy. Maybe you should do an article for Your Family Tree magazine - they have a "skeleton in the cupboard" feature each issue!
Jan

i take an interest in Workhouses in general. One of the first things I found out when I started researching my tree was that my paternal grandparents where a workhouse master and matron at various sites across the country.tI had never been mentioned by any of the family and on making enquiries among my older relatives, I found out why!

Andy

Clearly, experience counts! Have not been a member long and still learning. Once again thank you so much. Always amazed at the generosity of helpers.

I think Ancestry is more obliging than Genes! Used variable spelling options and a wide margin for error for the birth.
jan

Thank you again Andy. I think you've helped me before.

Wow Jan. Thank you so much. How'd you do that?

?

1901 England Census

Name: William Farrall
Age: 65
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836
Relation: Inmate
Gender: Male
Where born: Ireland

Civil parish: Wigan
Ecclesiastical parish: All Saints
County/Island: Lancashire

Registration district: Wigan
Sub-registration district: Wigan
ED, institution, or vessel: Wigan Union Workhouse

His name is William Farrell born 1841/2. Would appreciate it if someone else could try the 1901 census. sometimes Genes doesn't turn things up. In answer to your question Jan, have found his name on a communal grave dated 1903.

The workhouse inmates will appear on the census. If he died there, then the address of the workhouse will be shown on the cert. In some cases only the initials of the people in the workhouse are shown.

The website Jan has given is the best one for info.

Andy

Also

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LAN/Wigan/poorlaw.html

However, I suggest you double-check for him 1901 & 1911 . Have you asked folks on here to have a look?

Why do you believe he died in the workhouse in 1903?

Jan

Thank you very much Jan. Much Appreciated.

Have you tried a google search? This site looks promising

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Wigan/Wigan.shtml

It refers to these resources -

Wigan Archive Service, Town Hall, Leigh WN7 2DY. Holdings include: Guardians' minutes (1837-1930); Register of inmates (1906-49); etc.

Lancashire Record Office, Bow Lane, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2RE. Holdings include: Guardians' minutes (1837-1930); Ledgers (1836-61)

Jan

Advice please. How can I find out when and if a relative was a resident of this workhouse? I think that he died there in 1903, but there is no trace of him on the1901 census. Would the census normally record residents of Workhouses?