Ancestor in workhouse

[dcmbarton]

In 1901, I have an imbecile ancestor residing at the Cardiff District Union Workhouse. Is there any way of finding out anything more about him from the records? As far as I can make out there are quite extensive records in the Glamorgan Record Office, but have no idea where to start!

Any ideas?

David

[Sue Mackay]

Give Glamorgan Record Office a ring.
Got to http://www.glamro.gov.uk/ and click on Contact Us
They'll tell you what they have, then you can plan a quick trip from Gloucestershire - a very pleasant train ride (use Cathays station)

[Peter Goodey]

If he was still around in 1908, also check Whitchurch Hospital.

They have clinical and patients' records from 1905 (this suggests they may also have inherited records from elsewhere).

[dcmbarton]

Thanks for that. According to the Archives Network Wales, they have the following:

"Records of the Cardiff Poor Law Union, 1830-1930: Board of Guardians minutes, including several series of Committee Minutes, 1836-1930; Register of Officers, 1902-1957; weekly returns of number of paupers, 1914-1930; letter books (including appointments and applications letter books), 1868-1930; printed abstracts of accounts and lists of paupers, 1853-1912; printed abstracts of accounts, 1887-1926; year books, 1893-1930; miscellaneous papers, 1845-1925; Children's Homes, foster mothers' journals, 1930; Vaccination Committee minutes, 1890-1930; Rating Assessment Committee minutes, 1862-1927; rate books for Cogan, Llandough and Penarth parishes, 1880-1902; Rural Sanitary Authority minutes, 1872-1894, including ledgers, 1873-1894; letter books, 1872-1894; printed abstracts of accounts, 1878-1894; printed annual reports of Medical Officer of Health, 1875-1893; reports of Inspectors of Nuisances, 1873-1894; miscellaneous papers, 1872-1894; and School Attendance Committee minutes, 1877-1903."

What exactly out of these would it be worth looking at to find out more. Preumably the actual lists of paupers would indicate when he went in and out of the workhouse. I don't know about 1908, as I only have him in the 1901 census.

David

[hughar]

The main place to look for records of workhouse inmates are the admission and discharge registers, the births and deaths registers, and perhaps the Medical Officer's records, when they still exist. The minute books for the Board of Guardian meetings are usually of no help. They generally refer to management issues only - for example the letting of contacts for provisions, clothing coal etc and payments of monthly bills submitted by the contractors, payments of wages, other payments, receipts from parishes and similar matters, the level of the salary paid to the chaplain, etc..

As Sue Mackay has suggested, talk to the Record Office. They'll have been asked the question many times before, and will know if what they have includes any useful information on individual inmates.

[uksearch]

...and don't forget the Creed Registers. The can be most valuable;).

UK