Death in the Workhouse

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Death in the Workhouse

Postby Dig » Sun May 07, 2017 1:26 am

Hi all,

I am researching an ancestor called Samuel Payne (born about 1860, Welshpool) who died in 1906 in the West Bromwich Union Workhouse. His death certificate states that he died from pleurisy and his burial record states that he is buried at Heath Lane Cemetery in a paupers grave.

According to the 1901 census he was working as a stone sawyer and living with his wife Susan and four children in West Bromwich Street, Oldbury. In the 1911 census his wife is living in Tabenacle Street, Oldbury with five of their children and no occupation is recorded.

Any help with the following will be appreciated.

1) Are there any records from the workhouse that would be worthwhile looking at?

2) Would he have been in the workhouse because of poverty or just to get treated in the infirmary?

3) Is it likely his wife and children were in the workhouse with him? Is there any way of finding out?

4) What is a stone sawyer and could his job be linked to his death?

5) How could his wife support the children outside the workhouse after his death if she had no occupation?

Thanks in advance :wink:
If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree.
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Re: Death in the Workhouse

Postby linell » Sun May 07, 2017 3:52 am

Hi you would have to contact Sandwell and Dudley Archives to find out what Records they hold on the West Bromwich Workhouse.

If Samuel died of Pleurisy he must have been in the Infirmary. Pleurisy was rampant back in the old days, his Job as a Stone Sawyer cutting Stone, maybe in a Quarry wouldn't have helped, all that dust! No protective gear in those days would have gone straight on his chest.

Doesn't sound like his family were also in the Workhouse. They would have survived just about on Parish Relief. Any older boys could have been working. What does the 1911 Census say?

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Re: Death in the Workhouse

Postby Dig » Sun May 07, 2017 11:59 am

linell wrote:Hi you would have to contact Sandwell and Dudley Archives to find out what Records they hold on the West Bromwich Workhouse.

If Samuel died of Pleurisy he must have been in the Infirmary. Pleurisy was rampant back in the old days, his Job as a Stone Sawyer cutting Stone, maybe in a Quarry wouldn't have helped, all that dust! No protective gear in those days would have gone straight on his chest.

Doesn't sound like his family were also in the Workhouse. They would have survived just about on Parish Relief. Any older boys could have been working. What does the 1911 Census say?

Linell.


Hi Linell,

Thanks for the reply.

The 1911 census is as follows:

Susan Payne, Head, 42yrs, Widow, No Occupation Recorded, Born In Ludlow.
Mary Payne, Daughter, 19yrs, Single, No Occupation Recorded, Born Welshpool. This information is crossed out suggesting Mary was not at home.
Henry Payne, Son, 17yrs, single, Striker for Blacksmith, Born In Welshpool.
Annie Payne, Daughter, 14yrs, Single, General Domestic,Born In Welshpool.
John Payne, Son, 11yrs, Single, At School, Born In Welshpool.
Alfred Payne, Son, 8yrs, Single, At School, Born in Oldbury.
Winifred Payne, Daughter, 4yrs, Born in Oldbury.

According to earlier censuses, there was another daughter called Sarah Ann Payne born 1888 in Welshpool. She would have been the oldest child and was not in the household in 1911.

Some more questions for anyone able to answer ...

1) Were people admitted into workhouses just to get treated in their infirmaries? Just wondering if he likely became ill before or after entering the workhouse.
2) Why would he have entered the workhouse on his own? I thought usually, entire families went in.
3) Do parish relief records exist for Oldbury? If so, where can they be found?
4) According to the 1939 register, Susan was still a widow and living with two of her sons who were unmarried. Do you think they supported their mother financially?
5) Would Susan have paid for her children to go to school in 1911? If so, how could she have afforded this?

Cheers
If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree.
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Re: Death in the Workhouse

Postby linell » Sun May 07, 2017 4:58 pm

So in 1911 Susan had Henry and Annie employed.

Poor people were admitted into the Infirmary because they couldn't pay for Hospital Care. His family were not there because they had an abode, and were not suffering from pleurisy.

Any relating Documents could be held at Sandwell, Dudley or maybe Worcester? You need to e-mail them and ask.

Education from 1880 onwards was provided free of charge by either Board or Church Schools for children up to the age of 10 1880 and 13 1890

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Re: Death in the Workhouse

Postby gardener » Sun May 07, 2017 5:25 pm

Hi
There is some stuff about the workhouse here http://www.workhouses.org.uk/WestBromwich/

I wonder if "Pollie" is the missing Mary? In the household of her married sister - she may have sent money home to her mother as well.

1911
Thomas William Baggott 22
Sarah Ann Baggott 23
Pollie Payne 19 wife's sister Domestic (house duties) Welshpool
Violet May Baggott 11/12
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Re: Death in the Workhouse

Postby Dig » Sun May 07, 2017 7:32 pm

gardener wrote:Hi
There is some stuff about the workhouse here http://www.workhouses.org.uk/WestBromwich/

I wonder if "Pollie" is the missing Mary? In the household of her married sister - she may have sent money home to her mother as well.

1911
Thomas William Baggott 22
Sarah Ann Baggott 23
Pollie Payne 19 wife's sister Domestic (house duties) Welshpool
Violet May Baggott 11/12


Thank you so much! Just checked with my dad and his grandmother was known as Pollie. That is probably her. Do you have a full transcription including address?
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Re: Death in the Workhouse

Postby gardener » Mon May 08, 2017 7:05 am

1911
3 Francis Street, West Bromwich
Thomas William Baggott head 22 married sheet glass blower West Bromwich
Mrs Sarah Ann Baggott wife 23 married 1 1 1 0 Welshpool Wales
Miss Violet May Baggott daughter 11 mths West Bromwich Staffordshire
Miss Pollie Payne wife's sister 19 single domestic (house duties) Welshpool Wales

Household schedule number: 117
Piece: 17285
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