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Can anyone please advise where I can find details of the records from the Helston workhouse?
My grandfather, William Henry Richards was born there on 2 Nov 1868. He was the son of Mary Jane Richards. There are too many Mary Janes around the Helston area to pin down the right one. I am hoping that the workhouse records of the birth may refer to which parish is to be charged, and hence narrow down my search.

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1729

Cornwall local governement do hold some records so it might be worth contacting them

There are a lot of Mary Jane Richards in Cornwall but only one in Helston in 1870, listed as single


1871 England Census
about Mary Jane Bishop Richards
Name: Mary Jane Bishop Richards
Age: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1842
Relation: Daughter
Mother's Name: Susan Richards
Gender: Female
Where born: Helston, Cornwall, England
Civil parish: Helston
County/Island: Cornwall
Country: England
Registration district: Helston
Sub-registration district: Helston
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Household schedule number: 16
Piece: 2303
Folio: 6
Page Number: 4
Household Members: Name Age
Susan Richards 67
Eliza Harris Richards 34
Susan Harris Richards 32
Mary Jane Bishop Richards 29
Grace Richards 60

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

Records for Helston Workhouse
•Cornwall Record Office, Old County Hall, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3AY. Few records survive. Holdings include Guardians' minute books (1850-1894).

Dea x

1841 England Census
about Grace Richards
Name: Grace Richards
Age: 30
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1811
Gender: Female
Where born: Cornwall, England

Civil parish: Helston
Hundred: Kerrier
County/Island: Cornwall
Country: England

Registration district: Helston
Sub-registration district: Helston
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 139
Book: 7
Page Number: 1
Household Members: Name Age

Grace Richards 30 abt 1811
Richard Richards 35 abt 1806 Painter/glazier
Grace Richards 35 abt 1806
John Richards 12 abt 1829 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Elizabeth Richards 10 abt 1831
Mary Richards 8 abt 1833
Emily Richards 6 abt 1835
Louisa Richards 1 abt 1840
Thomas Richards 65 abt 1776
Mary Richards 65 abt 1776
Mary Richards 35 abt 1806


Might be worth having a root through the censuses

1871 England Census
about William Richards
Name: William Richards
Age: 9 Months
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Relation: Son
Father's Name: John Richards
Mother's Name: Elizabeth Richards
Gender: Male
Where born: Helston, Cornwall, England
Civil parish: Helston
County/Island: Cornwall
Country: England
Registration district: Helston
Sub-registration district: Helston
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Household schedule number: 86
Piece: 2303
Folio: 61
Page Number: 16
Household Members: Name Age
John Richards 42
Elizabeth Richards 38
Annie Richards 8
John Henry Richards 6
Alexander Richards 3
William Richards 9 Months <<<<<<Mary Janes son???

I wonder if John could be Mary Janes brother and took on little William? There are other Williams born around this time in the same area so its a long shot!

On an earlier census John is a painter/glazier as is the Richard that I posted above.

I cant seem to pin John with Mary Jane on the 1851 census but he could be working away from home?

HAng on this looks like the John in the 1871 census

1851 England Census
Name: John Richards
Age: 21
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1830
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Richard Richards
Mother's Name: Grace Richards
Gender: M (Male)
Where born: Helston, Cornwall, England

Civil parish: Helston
County/Island: Cornwall
Country: England

Registration district: Helston
Sub-registration district: Wendron
ED, institution, or vessel: 1c
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 39
Piece: 1912
Folio: 376
Page Number: 13
Household Members: Name Age
Richard Richards 46
Grace Richards 48
John Richards 21 <Painter/glazier
Elizabeth Richards 20
Mary A Richards 18
Emily Richards 16
Louisa Richards 11
John Richards 75
Elizabeth Richards 77
Richard Sanders 60
Elizabeth Smith 58
Martha Smith 46
Thomas Smith 36
Elizabeth Dyer 76
Edith Watts 73
Joseph H Johns 31
Martha T Smith 13


Maybe not then!

All Cornish census is free online:
http://www.cornwall-opc.org/Par_new/h_k/helston.php