Genealogy Chat

Thank you all so much for your help. I will print this up and read it to my mum and see if it rings any bells. I will keep you informed. Gail

I found this - www.walsall(.)gov(.)uk/History_Projects/Women/Health/HandyWomen.asp It doesn't mention "In & Out" but I think that may have been a nice local term instead. The role of the Handywoman Handywomen were respected members of the local community, who were called upon in times of need to deliver babies and lay out the dead - the task of bringing life into the world and preparing the dead was something done by families and neighbours. “A neighbour would go in and do what the undertaker now does, it’s in with the procedure, would lay them out, would wash them… my grandma used to help at all confinements round and she’s laid people out from seven or eight streets away.” Handywomen were popular because of the service they offered, whereas midwives provided little aftercare once they had delivered the baby. The fees for handywomen were less than for their qualified counterparts. Following a birth it was usual for the handywomen to help care for the mother and newborn baby. At the turn of the twentieth century, mothers were recommended to stay in bed for up to ten days after the birth. During this period, the handywoman would look after the mother, newborn child and care for the existing family. The decline in number of handywomen coincided with the Midwives Act of 1902. The regulation of the midwifery profession meant that the unqualified handywomen became increasingly ostracised from the medical establishment although it was possible for a handywomen to become a qualified midwife as long as the woman was ‘of a good character’ and had practised as a midwife for at least one year before the Act. The decline in handywomen also resulted from the increasing popularity of hospital and nursing-home births. Saz

Have you got a census image?

I would think that if she was a mid wife or district nurse she would have a uniform. Dose your Mum remember any thing like that.

I think that Angela has hit the nail on the head...my mother did the same thing in our locality in Co Durham but "ins and outs " I've never heard of . Joyce

Funny Angela, that crossed my mind but I thought I wouldnt say it! The only other thing - could she be a cleaning lady?

I agree with Angela, especially as you said she used to go off on her bike; midwives always had bikes in those days. It's a good mystery though eh? Jan

This is a wild guess but could she have assisted at births and deaths - in and out of this world kind of thing?

Hi everyone thank you so much for all your ideas. She used to go off on her bike when she was needed so my mum tells me. I hope i manage to find out. Gail

you say your mum told you.Dose she know who she work for?

Thanks for input I just hope someone can help. Gail

Hi, She lived up in Leeholme, near Coundon Durham. We are talking about early part of the 1900s. I don't have any other onfo. My mum told me that she was an Ins and Out woman. So who knows. Gail

What area is it in - as Nell said, look at the people round her on the census form. It may be something like checking things in and out at a factory or mill???

Nothing on Old Occupations website or by googling. When and where was this and are there any other clues - have you got her doing this on a previous census, other people in the household with this job title? nell

Hi, Can anyone tell me what an ins and out woman would have done. It would seem my gt gran was one. Thanks Gail