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Workhouse records

  • Thread starter Thread starter dearolmadolin
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dearolmadolin

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Erdington workhouse 1920s - can anyone help me please?

Hi,
I have been researching my Great Grandmother, and have come to a complete halt. I have spent hours on the ancestry and other websites and am beginning to bore my family to death! My Great Grandmother, Madolin Olga Nelly Raymond nee James, was born in Walsall in 1896, and married a chap called Roger Raymond in West Bromwich in 1916. We beleieve that she suffered from post natal depression after the birth of my grandmother in 1920. My Grandmother was advised that Madolin died 6 weeks after she was born, and adopted. This was never spoken about again.

I have been advised that she may well have gone into the Jaffray, then the Erdington Workhouse, where she probably died. I can find no death record anywhere. No record of her remarrying. No buriel or cremation records. If anyone can help me I would be so grateful.

My Mother died in October 2007 of cancer to her pancreas. She became ill and died very quickly. I swore that I would try to find out what happened to Madolin as Mom had always wanted to find out the truth. I have promised to burn a candle and take some flowers to her place of death, burial site, or where she lived. I believe from my research, that she must have died a tragic death after a misserable "life".

I visited Highcroft last week as I have been dreaming about a large stone celtic cross. I hoped that it was in the grounds of highcroft so that I could light a candle there. I was unable to find the cross. I have to say it was one of the saddest moments in my life visiting the grounds. The water tower and old laundry hold an enormous sence of sadness. Despite the renovation and money thrown at turning them into "yuppie flats", the building "feels" so sad!

If anyone could help my search, I would be really, truely grateful. Any information would be greatfully recieved.

Thank you in anticipation.
 
Erdington workhouse

Sorry to put a bit of a dampener on this discussion. Erdington workhouse records are in the Archives Dept of Birmingham Reference Library but any within 100 years are closed to researchers,
 
Although records that fall within the 100 year closure period are not available generally, you can write to Solihull Health Authority to request special dispensation to view them.

The best thing to do is visit B'ham Central Library - Archives Dept when they re-open and speak to the staff there regarding the information you are looking for, they are very helpful and will assist you in filling in the necessary paperwork.

I had a death certificate for an ancestor of mine who died in Highcroft in the 1930's. I wanted to find out when she was admitted and the reasons behind this, etc etc.

The genealogist in the Archives Department was excellent. She actually filled out the paperwork form for me, making suggestions as to what records may hold information for my ancestor.

Solihull Health Authority wrote back to me giving me authorisation to view the Hospital Records and I arranged an appointment in the Archives Department to view these ledgers.

Fay
 
Fay I did the same my ancestor died at Hatton Asylum in 1909 I managed to get the information in 2004 through Warickshire Health Authority and wonderful help from Warwick Records Office.
 
I have searched the Death index from 1920 to 1931 and there is no trace of Madolin. I did find a death for Roger Raymond aged 26 September Quarter 1921 West Bromwich ref 6b 684. It would be interesting to see who applied for the death certificate.
 
thank you

I am so pleased that I have some new direction with my search. Thank you so much for this, I really do appreciate it. I really feel positive that we may well find the answers to this longstanding mystery.
Once again........thank you x
 
Hya all

My husbands grandmother (Emily Hannah Smith nee Wilcox) ended her days in this place.
I have found out that she was a widow and died of Diabetes in 1909.
The children were evidently with her.
Would anyone be able to help me with

a) Is there a register of the dates of entrance and leaving this place.
b) At what age do children leave these places.
My husbands father (Thomas Smith) was her youngest son.
It is amazing to find out, as my husband (Thomas Smith) has had diabetes from the age of 17 and the family never knew.

My husband was his fathers only son and the youngest child of the family.
The older children being all girls.
 
Hi Smithy,

My Great Great Grandmother died in workhouse Infirmary in January 1899 - Birmingham Library hold some registers (not all) and I was lucky that they held the register that contained my GGm .

These registers are in the Archive section but the problem you may have is because your relative died 1909 then the register may be "closed" - the Hundred Year rule may apply but it is worth checking with the Library :):)
 
What do the records tell you? Is there any more information than on a death certificate?

My great grandfather died in August 1930 at 18 Union Road, Erdington, which , I believe was the 'infirmary'. He isn't on any electoral role and the last address I have for him, before 1930, is on the 1901 census. Would the records be able to fill in any gaps?
 
It gave me deatails of how long she was in the infirmary, whether she was an inmate (yes) - also gave details of n.o.k - address/ - this was useful for me to fill in a gap between 1891 and 1901 - she had lived with her daughter in 1891 but 1901 census they had all disappeared, but the info from the workhouse record helped me track her daughter down to an address which eventually came up on the 1901 census

I would imagine the 100 year rule would definately apply to anyone in Workhouse in 1930's
 
re- aston union workhouse

Hya Many thanks for the info.
I will give it a try when I go to the library.
 
Union Road

Good luck with your visit to the library. I am looking for information on my grandmother who died at 18, Union Road in 1931. The 100 year rule does not apply to military records so why should it apply to hospital records? Keep us posted
Regards
Tony
 
18 Union Rd, Erdington

Hi Tonydol & welcome too,,,:)

Put some details on "Surnames", trying to find sections
your Grandmother, birth/marriage, 1901 census info if you have it
then folks on here can assist your tracing, Elec Rolls prob reqd.

18 Union Rd, Erdington,, is that Highcroft Hospital ? or
Jaffrey Hosp,, i always get them mixed up,
Anyone out there clarify? Thanks John Y :cool:
 
Aston Workhouses

Hello Smithy: Maybe some of the children were placed in orphan homes, such as Dr. Barnardos. Over 100,000 children were sent from the U.K. over to Canada to work on farms. If you can give me the names of the children I can search the Canadian government site for you which lists many of the children who came over. If you think this is a possibility there are other sites that can be searched. Our family didn't know how my father arrived in Canada as he joined WW1 when he was 17 and never saw him family in England again. I just discovered this information about 20 years ago and we were certainly surprised by this information. Also, there is quite a lot of information on this site about Home Children. There is also a lot of discussion about workhouses and home children on two different sites that I belong to. Isobel (Ontario)
 
Hi,

I was given access to the records for the Aston Union Workhouse as it was known up until 1925, but as you rightly say you do have to get permission. The only records that I could find was the religious creed register which shows information like relatives and last address and date of discharge or death. It's worth a look. After 1925 the building changed its name to Erdington House and then later to Highcroft. The workhouse records finish at 1925 because of the change in use and name and then you will have to apply for more access.
The white cross that was mentioned in your dream may be the one in Witton Cemetary. This was the local burial place for the workhouse people. The burial records are up Birmingham Library and the ladies at witton are really helpful.
Good Luck
 
Hi Smithy,

I think it's only a 50yr closure 100yrs on Census. You will find the admission indexes for Aston Union in Central Library as I did. Also Aston Board of Guardians (Mintues). Some of the records have been lost.
I have photocopies of Medical Records of a Grand Uncle up to 1948.

Happy Hunting
ShirleyMay:)
 
John ,Union road was where Highcroft Road is, just off Fentham road ,Erdington.I think the road name was changed when ther Aston Union workhouse became the Highcroft hospital.
 
I have just received a very scant report from Birmingham Library which I paid $50 CAD. Apparently the majority of registers for the early 20th century are in too fragile a state to be examined. They tell you this after they take your money of course. On a happier note I found my Great Thomas Henry Manton (Jeweller) 35 yrs- Admitted 1 Apr 1891 to the Winson Green Asylum and discharged to Aston Union!!!! 18 July 1891 Age of first attack 34 yrs.
No other info was given to me. Should I assume that Aston Union is a Workhouse or a Hospital such as Highcroft? I have not been able to find his death date is there a cemetery near the hospital that I could search?
Thanx in advance for any assistance.
 
Hi Dogwood: Welcome to the site. Sorry to hear that you had to pay $50 CAD and not receive any worthwhile information. There is quite a lot of information on this site about the Workhouses especially Highcroft Hall-Aston Union. If you look at the very top bar on this thread you will see the links
to Workhouses. Homes, Hospital Workhouses.

I have been unable to find out any information as to where inmates of
Highcroft Hall were buried. Someone else might know and there are
contact links on these websites where you could probably find out this information. As for lists of inmates at Highcroft. There is a census for 1871
listing their names. Good luck

Where about in British Columbia do you live? I live near to Vancouver.
 
I have found people in asylums and workhouses listed in census's but they are usually listed with just initals. I have read that sometimes the chemicals used in the jewellery industry caused many health problems maybe this is what caused his first attack. My relative was in an Asylum due to epilepsy.
 
Wendy - I too have a relative who was in an asylum - the City Asylum in Lodge Road. He had been a japanner all his life and I wondered if this work might have led to his condition. He went into the Asylum at the same time as his stepmother went into the Workhouse Infirmary around 1891 and he died in there in 1909.

His death certificate state he had Dilation of Heart. Syncope for 17 years. A condition that is treatable today more than likely.

Judy
 
Hi, I am a bit confused! I have an ancestor who died in the Aston Union Workhouse, Erdington in 1890. I just rang the archives in Birmingham and the genealogist told me that no registers have survived, only administrative papers which contain no names. Reading the other posts here suggests that at least some do??
Can anyone throw any light on this?
thanks :rolleyes:
 
Hi Again
Yes I am from Vancouver, BC the area around White Rock. The librarian Doreen at
Birmingham Library is so busy she kept forgetting to write me back it took weeks and weeks to finally get results. I was surprised that they have not microfiched the registers for the early 20th century. I was interested in Winson Green Asylum 1891 so apparently those were available but many were too fragile so what is the point of saving them if you can't utilize the information. Perhaps they are saving them for the Mayor or something :) Anyhow. Should they film them once they would be available for everyone's perusal and the fragile ones could be kept in a vault then everyone would be happy.
The 1891 Census only mentioned TH Manton -Jeweller in the Asylum but because there weren't any other TH Manton's in the census I kinda figured it was mine.
That being said I do wonder why I can't find his death record, him being the only Thomas Henry Manton.
I will try to find out more about the Illnesses of Jewellers in the Birmingham Quarter.
thanks for the website.
 
Hi Dogwood,

I know that many of the records held by the Library pertaining to the various workhouses/asylum/infirmary's are in a poor state of repair, however I found my great great grandmother in Western Rd Infirmary in 1899 but earlier records were unavailable as they were fragile. I was told that they will be restored and it is the Libraries intention to have all the records they do have restored in next two years thus making them available to the public.

They rely on B'ham City Council giving them funding to complete this work
.... I shall say no more :);)!!
 
Hi Dogwoodtravel - What year were you thinking he died? There is a Thomas Henry Manton who got married in Birmingham in the June quarter of 1900 to Sarah Jane Bennett. They are shown in the 1901 census as living at 1 Severn Grove, Difford Road, St George parish. He was a Silversmith aged 35 and born in Aston. Do you think this might be your man? Judy
 
Thank You so much for your help!-
I have never searched the 1901 Census because my Thomas Henry Manton was born 1856 Aston Warwickshire. married Fanny Lizars Morrison 18 Nov 1876, Birchfield, Handworth, Staffordshire. His family immigrated to Canada in 1902 because he was deceased by that time. This much was passed on through family hearsay. They said he died in the late 1880's which doesn't appear to be true now.
Thomas's father was James Manton also a Jeweller & Silversmith [FONT=&quot]According to Birmingham Reference Library in 1881 , T H Manton had a shop in Linwood Road, Handsworth, which is part of Birmingham. His father James Manton had a shop at 37 Great Hampton Street Birmingham and lived in Birchfield. My [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Thomas Henry Manton in the 1881 Census was employed as a Master Silversmith in charge of 40 employees, living at Ashdale House, Yardley, Worcestershire. The year before he had been living at 84 Lozells Rd. Aston.
It was a surprse to me to find T.H. Manton in the 1891 Census 35 yrs old, Jeweller in the Asylum- but who knows what health problems he may have had, what with
little or no ventilation, constant toxic fumes, working with Silver solders which had cadmium in them causing lung damage and Silver Chloride which could cause blindness. I don't know much about Jewellery making but the occupational hazards were daunting.
I just went into my old 2003 research and noticed a comment about a second [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Thomas Hy Manton on - Golden Hillock Road? I must have suspected another one whom was probably not a Silversmith.
I am also noting that there was another Thomas Henry Manton born Dec quarter 1865 perhaps it was he who married Sarah Jane Bennet in 1900 June Quarter.
I wonder if they were related. Hmm so much to ponder.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]

[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
 
Hello again - I have checked again from the information you have given, and it seems that your Thomas Henry Manton did die before the 1901 census as I have found his widow Fanny L Manton (a widow of 43) with their children, Beatrice 21, Hubert/or Herbert 19, Florence 18. They are living in Chaworth Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham. Fanny was from Ipswich.

Have you been able to find Fanny in the 1891 census? I have found Thomas in the asylum, Beatrice living with her aunt, and Archie living with his maternal grandparents, but couldn't find Fanny. I haven't found a death for Thomas Henry.

Good luck in your search.

Judy
 
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Thank you

I put a request into 1901 Census and now have two threads in progress.
Brilliant!
[FONT=&quot]Thomas Henry Manton did die before the 1901 census as his widow Fanny L Manton (a widow of 43) with their children, Beatrice 21, Hubert/or Herbert 19, Florence 18. They are living in Chaworth Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham. Fanny was from Ipswich.
Details regarding the children. Hubert Frank Manton born 10 Apr 1878 Birmingham,
Archibald Thomas James Manton born 4 Oct 1877 Birmingham, Beatrice Maude Manton born 26 April 1878, Erdington, Aston,, Florence May Manton born (best guess Sept quarter 1881 Solihull.
I had forgotten that [/FONT][FONT=&quot]in 1891 they were living at 124 Bordesley Green.
and Archibald was living with his grandparents, Archibald Morrison born 1823 Scotland and Susan Jackson born 1826 Louth, Lincoln.
Archibald Morrison was working for The Small Arms Company, Aston

So I am back to looking for a cemetery for Thomas Henry Manton between 1891 and 1901 but if the family history is correct it would be closer to 1891. I should be looking in the directories I suppose to try to glean where they were during these years. sincerely thank you
[/FONT]
 
Dogwood

Are you still trying to find a cemetery close to the hospital/workhouse.

My Great Grandmothers second husband, Thomas Lambeth, died at "18 Union Road" in March 1926. He is buried in a public grave at Witton Cemetery, which isn't to far away. Have you tried there??

Stephen
 
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