Genealogy Chat

From the 1911 census I have discovered my ancestors suffered the ignomony of having to resort to living/working in a workhouse (Orsett, Essex) and having their children separated from them and placed in the Stifford, Essex, Cottage Home. I would like to ascertain how long they were there.

Would anyone be able to advise if records were kept of persons living in these establishments and, if so, who would I need to contact to see the relevant entries.

Many thanks,

Martyn

Try

www.workhouses.org.uk

More info and if any records survive see

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Orsett/

Andy

Records held here I believe:

Records
Essex Record Office, Wharf Road Chelmsford CM2 6YT. Few records survive — holdings include: Guardians' minutes (1835-1930); Relief order books (1911-32); etc.

See:

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Orsett/

Essex Archives may have the Admission/Discharge books for you to look through. Have a look through their site.

http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/

They may search on your behalf if you can't get there, but there would likely to be a fee.

Andrew, Jonesy and +++DetEcTive+++,

Many thanks for your help with my query; I will give the various links a whirl!

Kindest regards,

Martyn

You are most welcome. Good luck with your research.

Many thanks, Jonesey

(Incidentally, my ancestors in question were named Jones!)

Why Ignomy, I would hazard a guess that the vast majority of us have relatives in the Workhouse.

My g/aunt (who I knew & Loved dearly) was born in a workhouse.

My ex-husband's family all lived in a reception centre (what they were called up to the mid 1960's) when they fell on hard times. Mum lived in womens part with older daughter & younger children, father in other part with older sons.

With no access to Social Security as there is today and no social housing the workhouse, albeit a last resort, was often the only place to go.

You will often find that the elderly and parentless children were the ones who spent the longest time in the workhouse. Men & women would often work outside the workhouse during the day, and as their finances improved they would then move out to other accomodation they had found for their familes.

Piglet's Pal,

I'm sorry if my choice of noun has offended, and I apologise.

I presume this is a stigma which has been passed down through my family from those fortunate enough never to have been in such establishments.

This is the first time I have come across a family in my tree institutionalized this way; from what you say, there is every chance I will uncover such unfortunate (?) happenings in my further researches.

Many thanks for correcting me on this matter.

Kindest regards,

Martyn

Oh Martyn, no offence was taken at all, just a bit bemused that you may have been shocked or disappointed.

I am of the opinion that unless our ancestors were very rich for many generations, most families in the UK will have at least 1 person who has been in the Workhouse.

I have one of my g/g/grandfathers brothers whose wife had every child in the infirmary/hospital attached to the local workhouse, all 9 of them!!!!

All the best