Genealogy Chat

Hello Ann,

A lot of the workhouses had infirmary/schoolhouse attached. I would think he would have been classed as an inmate even if he spent his time in the infirmary. The records I saw also had details of outmates who depended upon the handouts from the local authority but were able to stay in their own homes being taken in as a inmate sparodically when their circumstances changed...........hope you get lucky with records!

Thank you all for your replys.
**Ann** I will certainly try and look him up in the local archives.He was an 'inmate' so I dont think he was ill, but if he had a mental illness or was just infirm he may have been on the inmate side.
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I would imagine that his children were in all probability too poor to help him and were just a few shillings away from the workhouse themselves. Not that unusual And you should not think of our ancestors as not looking after their elderly relatives because they did not want to.

I have several ancestors who died in the workhouse and like DetEcTive they did have family members with them when they died.

They may have been in the 'workhouse' but if they were very old and infirm or very ill they would in all probability been in the infirmary and not the workhouse proper. Many of these infirmaries later went on to become Cottage Hospitals.

It was a different world then and the stanards and norms of today are miles away from 100 years ago.

Mine lived in a Workhouse for about 20 years, from shortly after 1901. He died there with his daughter in law in attendance.

Having looked at the admission and discharge books, it would seem that he 'went on leave' at various times. So from his point of view, it was an Old Peoples care home, being free to come and go as he pleased. He had his photo taken outside of a photographers shop on one outing!

Ann,

There may be record of him at the local archives relating to that particular workhouse......which may give his circumstances at the time of admission.

I did quite a lot of research on a couple who were in and out of the workhouse for years...........whilst reading about other individuals circumstances...........I also saw letters from the workhouse governor to relatives encouraging them to take in their father/mother etc.

It could also be that he had mental health problems/ilness etc preventing his family stepping in.

I have just found out that my greatgrandad lived (for a few years) and died in the workhouse. I feel quite sad at this. He had 10 children ( all in their 20's and 30's in 1911 and living nearby.)could none of them had helped him? The down side of finding out things about your family history I suppose.
Still I have found out lots of other good things, so I suppose you have to have ups and downs lol.
Ann