UK-WORKHOUSE-HOSP-L Archives

From: "MaryH" <>
Subject: Re: [UK-W&H] Whitfield Search in Durham Record Office Please
Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 18:29:08 +0100
References: <3D08EEFB.46749BA1@emirates.net.ae>

Am I right in thinking that some member of the
> family had to support these children in the Workhouse even though they
> had nothing to do with them personally on a day to day basis ?

Hi Pauline,

The question of support is tricky. If the workhouse could recover any
expenses they would but this was often not possible. If children were
"abandoned" by the surviving parent the Union authorities often pursued them
through the courts and they ended up in prison for abandoning their children
(not very helpful!!). In most cases the surviving parent handed the children
over to the authorities and then had no more to do with them. In this way
the Union could apprentice the children, send them abroard etc etc without
having to obtain parental consent.

It was a brutal system and many people fell foul of it simply because one of
the parents died and the survivor could not work and care for children at
the same time.

There is a North East list, look on the Rootsweb pages for the address to
subscribe to.

Good luck

Mary Hallett - West Sussex
Visit my Website at www.fourbears.worldonline.co.uk
Researching -MILLS, HUMBLE, HICKS, HALLETT
BARKAS - one name study

This thread:

• [UK-W&H] Whitfield Search in Durham Record Office Please by Pauline <>

  • Re: [UK-W&H] Whitfield Search in Durham Record Office Please by "MaryH" <>

    • Re: [UK-W&H] Whitfield Search in Durham Record Office Please by Pauline <>