Workhouse Admission Order. Did it ever happen?

[benny1982]

Hi

In December 1878 my ancestors, the Roberts applied for poor relief due to destitution after losing money on a beer house in Walworth, South London. They were living at 69 Leather Lane in Holborn, London. In 1881 they were just round the corner at No 9 Portpool Lane. The family consisted of, Thomas Roberts, his wife Mary Ann, and their 6 children aged 1 to 14 in Dec 1878. Their reason for application was "Destitute" and Thos was a Labourer.

The 1878 application gives the husband, wife, and all the children's names and it also says that they became chargeable to Clerkenwell, probably they were to pay for their relief yet in the "Whether husband, wife, or children sent to workhouse or asylum" it says "yes".

There is a composite register of all the admissions and discharges of every workhouse in the Holborn and Clerkenwell area for that period of time, yet I cannot find any reference to my ancestors entering any workhouse etc. The register covers Grays Inn Rd Workhouse, City Road Workhouse, Clerkenwell Workhouse, and Holborn Infirmary and no admissions for my Roberts ancestors for Dec 1878 or afterwards at any of those in the Holborn Union.

Does this mean that not every workhouse admission order or offer was executed? By 1881 the head was a watchman and two of his children were tailoresses and they were living just round the corner from 69 Leather Lane at No 9 Portpool Lane. Could they have changed their mind about entering the workhouse at the last minute etc???

Maybe if I pm'd the original image to anyone this might help?

Thanks

Ben

[benny1982]

Hi

I have just had a theory that they were due to enter the workhouse but backed out at the last minute and found other ways of managing. I think the workhouse was just a last resort for the really needy so they probably found other methods of coping but the poor relief document doesnt actually cross reference their backing out. I did suspect that.

Thomas probably didnt want that for his family. He had a small army pension. I wonder if he was swinging the lead a bit.

Ben

[Peter Goodey]

I'm afraid I got stuck on the original message where you said "became chargeable to Clerkenwell". In 1878 Clerkenwell was part of the Holborn Union and didn't have a separate existence in poor law terms so I didn't understand the "chargeable" reference.

What's the original image that you mentioned?

[benny1982]

Hi

It is an application for poor relief made on the 2nd December 1878 to the Holborn Union. It was Thomas Roberts, Mary Ann and their 6 children. There was a column that said "Where chargeable" and it said "Clerkenwell".

Would maybe uploading the image help decipher it more?

Ben