Genealogy Chat

My great grandmother died in Pontefract Workhouse (Paradise Gardens) in 1943. The workhouse was, between 1930 and 1948 used mainly for the elderly and infirm and it later became a geriatric hospital. She died of heart disease, so rather than being senile, she was probably just old. Her informant was her son, but her age on her death certificate was 2 years out, compared to her birth certificate!

Suzanne I said that MANY of the people in Workhouses, died there because they were insane or senile - not that ALL people who died in the workhouse were insane and senile! The Workhouse was a catch-all for the poor, and the only access to medical treatment that poor people had. There was no care in the community for the elderly insane/senile, and most who WERE senile or insane, ended their days in the Workhouse - there was no other arrangement in place for them. OC

Hi, I tend to agree with An Olde Crone, Passports were not required, ages were not needed to verify anything so why would you remember your birthday. Today we have to remember lots of things because it is required. As we get older even today we all make more and more mistakes about our age. A friend of mine went to see a nurse who asked him how long ago he last had his Cholesteral checked by her. About 3 years ago, he replied. While looking for his records she asked him his age. 48 he replied. When she found his records she told him she had some good news and some bad news. The bad news was his last check was 5 years earlier, but the good news was he was now 10 years younger. (He was of course 58). Paul

i really dont agree that most people where in the workhouse because they were insane or imbeciles,my g grandmother died in the workhouse while suffering from tb 6days after giving birth(the child also died) her family where just poor,most people went to the workhouse when they could no longer look after them selves,due to unemployment,or illness,remember that they had no dole in them days,xxx

And remember many people who died in Workhouses were there because they were insane, senile, etc. Any information, on any certificate, is only as good as the informant - death certs being the least reliable of all, I imagine, as the one person who MIGHT have known the truth, was not there to give it. OC

Ben, Just because a birth was registered it did not mean that a person had their certificate, they had to be paid for, so parents would often register, but not bother with the certificate. Birthdays were not celebrated as they are today, so many people were not sure of their own ages, or places of birth, so you cannot judge the record keeping by the standards of today. Any information is only as good as the knowledge of the person providing it, and there have always been errors and misinformation. Jennifer

Hi Suzanne Sorry about that, I was asking a question. I have just been googling and reading on a website and it said a Medical Director interviewed each patient before being admitted into the workhouse or infirmary. So he must of asked for their age as well I suppose? ben

hi ben,im a bit confused with your thread,are you asking a question or stating a fact? my g,great grandmother died in a workhouse in liverpool, her correct age,date of birth and condition was stated correctly on the death cert by the then master of the workhouse.xxxx

Hi A lot of ages at death are sometimes guessed when registering them but it makes me think that if a master of the workhouse or medical superintendent of the Infirmary registered the death, then they should know the age just as much as a relative because when the patient is admitted, he/she usually gives their personal details, also after 1875 when a medical cert had to be produced to register a death, then the details on the cert would of been further proof, and the hospital should of known the patients age as it would be on their admission and discharge registers? Ben