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Archiver > UK-WORKHOUSE-HOSP > 2002-07 > 1026756915


From: "MaryH" <>
Subject: Re: [UK-W&H] question on workhouses and orphans
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 19:26:36 +0100
References: <200207150003.g6F034XL025590@lists2.rootsweb.com> <3D3238F4.91D17875@ff.lakeheadu.ca>


> I know so little about this. My grandfather and his brothers were under
the care of the West Ham
> Union until sent to Canada as Home Children. Were they actually kept in
a workhouse or just
> fostered and under its supervision? My grandfather, like so many, never
spoke of this aspect of his
> life.

Hi Marjorie,

Children under 5 were fostered, over 5 they were placed in Union run homes
always called schools in the Union records.

The regimes in the homes was probably pretty harsh (brutal by todays
standards).The fostering was supervised, but as to how closely, we can only
guess.

I would just add that life for the poor in society was desperately grim at
that time and life in any institution was probably worse. Once sent to
Canada, the supervision was low and the experience of many such children
does not make happy reading. At least if they stayed in England they
remained in a familiar environment.
Mary Hallett - West Sussex
Visit my Website at www.fourbears.worldonline.co.uk
Researching -MILLS, HUMBLE, HICKS, HALLETT
BARKAS - one name study

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