England Workhouse Admissions and Discharges - International Institute

Workhouse In-Relief
The first workhouses were intended principally to house the elderly, sick and orphans, but later took in many able but out-of-work men and their destitute families, increasingly so after 1834.

A distinction was made in the minds of the affluent regarding the idle poor, (the able who would not work), and the deserving poor, who for some legitimate reason were unable to support themselves. The change in 1834 to creating basic but unattractive conditions in the workhouse, and forcing all paupers to reside therein or lose benefits, was largely based on this ethic.

Workhouse Admissions and Discharges
The truthfulness of information, especially birthplace and recent residence, given by destitute persons needing a roof over their heads, food and clothing must never be taken completing at face value. It is a case of primary evidence given under stress for a definite purpose and thus may be less reliable than other primary evidence. Nevertheless, useful leads may be had from these documents.

There are often six-monthly summaries called indoor relief lists that can act as indexes to the admission and discharge registers. The lists state names and dates of birth as well as how long they have been in the workhouse.

St. George in The East, Middlesex Workhouse Admissions and Discharges 1807-1818

Westminster Workhouse, Middlesex Admissions and Discharges 1824

Westminster Workhouse, Middlesex Admissions and Discharges 1835

There are other columns indicating how many times admitted, and which ward they were placed in. James Cleghorn records his 14th, 15th, and 16th visits above.

History of Dashwood Family in Piccadilly Workhouse 1824-1828

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Information in this Wiki page is excerpted from the online course English: Poor Law and Parish Chest Records offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. To learn more about this course or other courses available from the Institute, see our website. We can be contacted at [mailto:wiki@genealogicalstudies.com wiki@genealogicalstudies.com]

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