Genealogy Chat

Can anyone tell me if children born in the workhouse were registered in the normal way and if they were likely to be christened? There is a rumour that my great grandfather was born in the workhouse around 1865 - 1868 but I cannot find any trace of a birth cert or a baptism. Your comments would be greatly appreciated. Linda

Linda, i had a relative born in the workhouse -only knew this after ordering Birth Cert in the usual way,hope thats some help.

My grandfather was born in a workhouse in 1870, I found his birth in the usual indexes. I then obtained records from the workhouse which included the entry in the admittance register for his mother, the entry of his birth and the entry in the discharge register when he and his mother left the workhouse. She was married and lived not far from the workhouse, so I think she was only there for her confinement, and was discharged after 2 and a half weeks. Kath. x

I think workhouses often acted as the local maternity hospital so if a baby was premature or any thing they might well admit the mother. They also took in a lot of unmarried mother's so have you tried looking for the birth under the mother's maiden name. The baptism may well have taken place in the girl's home parish rather than where the workhouse was. Anne

Infirmaries had hospital wings too . altho babies were usually born at home its poss that some children may have been born in the workhouse infirmary for medical reasons

My G grandfather was born in workhouse in leicester and was christened in church local to the workhouse. Looking through the parish records it looks like quite a few workhouse babies were christened there, usually as a job lot

Linda What was your great grandfather's name ? Which workhouse was your great grandfather apparantly born in ? There are some sites which give inmates names and ages and place of birth. Regards Jim

hiya my gt grannie was born in melton mowbray workhouse in 1847, the Master of the workhouse, registered the birth, which was in the GRO index, (any birth in a workhouse had to be reg'd by the master) HTH julie

Thank you to everyone who replied to my request for help. I have replied directly to a couple of people. I'll keep on searching and hopefully I will break down this brick wall. Thanks again Linda

Pre 1875 birth might not be registered though. A good percentage were never registered whatever the circumstances just because it was relatively easy to avoid doing so.

I ordered a birth cert for one of the daughters of my GGGfather and the address was the Workhouse in Dover. I checked the film of the workhouse records at my local Family History Centre and she was registered there. I didn't check the baptism register though but will do do as I am interested in whether she was baptises as RC or CoE. I suspect the former.