Genealogy Chat

Just received a Death Cert I have been waiting for. Its for my GreatGran, who died at the age of 24. I have found that she died in North Manchester workhouse, in 1898, of T.B What is confusing, is that her husband, my GreatGrandad, was a working man with an address. Any thoughts as to why she would be in the workhouse. Ann

It could be that she was sent to the workhouse basically to die. If she had previously been in a poor law hospital (tratment was calculated by what the familly could afford to pay and if her condition intrested the doctors and the chance of a cure) then when the hospital could not give her any further treatment or the family could not pay she would be taken to the workhouse. this site has a good history of this system www*nhshistory*net/poor_law_infirmaries*htm

If your great grandfather was working, he may not have been able to give the care your great grandmother needed, especially if there were young children to be looked after. The workhouse was often used as a hospital: it would not necessarily mean that she had been abandoned by her family.

Thanks to Lunar and Brenda, I have been looking at that site this morning. Thats why I felt sad. It must have been the most awful place to be. We don't realise how lucky we are today. She did have small children, 3 in 6 years. The sad thing about it as well, is, that she was Spanish, and brought over here by my GGrandad. I still don't know where she was buried, or anything about her family in Spain. He remarried in 1899. Didn't wait long. Ann Thanks Lady Liberty. Will have a look.

Workhouses were also used as infirmaries (or hospitals). My grandfather was born in a workhouse, but his parents lived in a street just round the corner from it. Kath. x

I, too have a gggran who died of TB at 24 in 1838, leaving three small children. And last weekend found another who in 1861 aged 15 was in a 'Home for Friendless Girls'. Now looking to find what became of her mother. Hard times!