General Chat

Hi guys

Just found a relative who was in the workhouse in south shields and shows as an inmate (1871 census)? Is there anyway of finding out why?


His name was John thompson, his wife was ellen cook (married sept 1840) and parents where John Thompson and ann lodge?

Hope someone can help

Mx

You could contact the local record office and ask if the work house register still exists. some of them do, that would give a reason for admittance.

According to the workhouses site it doesn't look as if records survive from that far back.

Have you looked on the workhouses site:-

http://www.workhouses.org/

Put South Shields into the search box on the site.

Kath. x

Where was his wife when he was in there?
If only he was in there, he could have been in there because he was ill.
It was the only place where the doctor was free.
If both of them were in there - look at the work situation in the locality.

My grandmother (born 1904) was born 'In the workhouse' - as were the 9 siblings who followed - only because my g gran was canny!
G grandad had a perfectly good job - but if g gran went to the workhouse she got the best of treatment and a free doctor.
I must add that, by 1904, the hospital was a seperate extension to the workhouse.