Genealogy Chat

I have a rather jaundiced view on care in the community. In some case it can mean bunging a relative a few quid a week to look after someone who really needs institutional care from professionals, which would cost ten times as much.

Hello All, Thank you all for your thoughts and advice, It realy helps when you find people understand, I think now people like George would be looked after(Care in the comunity). Sometimes we all have a moan about the way things are, but it opens your eyes when you start doing your family tree just how lucky we are today. Well in much better frame of mind today, so will start on the rest of family, I'm sure you will all hear from me again. Good luck in your searches. Regards Pat

My grandmother was in service and so she had to pack her kids off to her sister.But,if her sister hadn't have taken them then I'm sure that they would have ended up in the workhouse too.Have a look here for more info about where your g.uncle lived. http://www.workhouses.org.uk/

Hello George, That is realy kind of you to offer to help me with the parish records, I was wondering where to go next for info, as I am disabled and cannot travel far, I would have to wait untill my son could take me wherever. So I would love to take up your offer, what do you need info wise and I dont have your e-mail address. Regards Pat

People weren't always 'dumped' in a workhouse. My father was in the Kensington workhouse at 8 and then went on to be in care until he was 14 - along with 5 of his siblings. His father was out of work and couldn't pay the rent. However, when he was in the sorkhouse - his mother was there too and worked in the laundry in an attempt to earn enough to 'buy them out'. He always said that life was hard but he was never, ever short of his mother's love! It's worth delving a little - I was able to find all the records of his time in care. That led to his wanting to revisit the workhouse, which is now a select residential development. I'm so pleased we did. he was nearly 86 and he died suddenly the next day! Sylvie

Patricia, If you want any help ie parish records etc for solihull area just email me :~) Ive access to local parish records

I found a relative on a census who had been ticked as blind/deaf/feebleminded. She was fine on earlier censuses, so I presume she was deaf or blind due to age or illness (she wasn't old enough to be senile). Her youngest two children were under 10. How awful it must have been for the little ones to have to look after her.

I can remember my dad mentioning the Work house when I was small, it was the not looked on with any can of hope. The Work house replaced the poor relief. Before 1800 you had to have a note to prove where you were from, if you fell on hard times that would mean the parish could apply to your home parish for money to help you or you were removed back to your home parish, hence the removel notices you will get around then. Then they changed it so the county looked after you and not the parish hence the Work House not sure of the actual timing. Around 1815 the army throw out a lot of their people so what did they do they went on the land as they didn't have a trade. Then you had the riots around 1830, (called swing riots) to many people to work the land and they were bringing in machinery so the labourers were falling on hard times. Sorry for the mini history lesson but I have been reading up on these as it does make interesting reading and helps me to understand why certain things happened when they did. Irene

Hi all, Sorry to so long comming back to you all, I had to go to the bank. I know you are all right of couse, It was just the instant shock of finding out that he was blind. I will of course try to find out what happened to him and how it happened if I can, Will let you know if I find out anymore. Regards Pat

I have the feeling that it hasn't changed much since then ! With taxes and everything today's professionals (e.g. ME) are also struggling to make ends meet ! So now you've let off steam, Patricia, maybe you're curious to find out the true story ?? I would be.

Talking to an aquaintance short while ago who was horrified to find that a relative had a paupers funeral in 1930's even though the person came from a large family. Unfortunately even at that time professional people were struggling to make ends meet and often familes shared houses and were very overcrowded. Chances are that it was usual that any disabled person who couldn't make a living ended up in such places. Perhaps he wanted it that way as not to be a burden on the family - or he may not have liked your relatives husband or their children especially if they were noisy and moved things around - you just don't know. Perhaps the RNIB might shed some light on the situation for you.

Pat, It may be that your relatives were not in a position to care for him. They may have been living in poverty themselves. Also bear in mind that you have found your relative and you are thinking about him. You have plucked him from the past and he will be there for your descendants to come. Like all our ancestors we find he is now special and will always be remembered. Sue x

I have just found my Grans brother in the workhouse solihull, He was classed as a pauper, but it also said he was blind. Any tips on where to go next to find out what happened to him after the workhouse. I can't believe I have spent £4-50 on the 1901 census. I had to go through alot of pages to find him, And I am upset that he was put in the workhouse and not kept at home. I don't think I like my GT Grandparents very much. Sorry to let off steam. Pat