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Advice on Workhouse 'catchment' area required

D

Dashers

master brummie
In 1901 my Gt Grandfather was living in Park Lane, Aston with his brother's family and their father.

By 1905 the father was dead and I think (need to fully check) that the brother died in 1907.

Having a quick look at the 1911 census (not subscribed yet) I see that the brother's two children were in Meriden Workhouse, no sign of the mother (although there are a few matches to people living at the 'ancestral' village in Leicestershire, that I need to research)

My question is why the 'Meriden' Workhouse? There were obviously closer places to Aston. Does anyone know if you were put at the one that had room (I'm sure that there was no shortage of needy causes).

Would two children (ages 12 & 15) be sent without parents? If the mother had died too wouldn't they go to an orphanage or at those ages would they be too old?

Would a mother leave her kids to a workhouse and go off to relatives to try to set up home again? I guess anything is possible and nothing is unique

Any advice on what was the 'norm' would be appreciated or any thoughts or theories

Thanks
Paul
 
There is a load of info at that site but from my limited knowledge the admin procedure would ensure that they had a "right" to relief within that catchment area. So if the records you have found are correct then they must have had some connection or family in that parish. IF the mother had died and they were destitute orphans they would certainly have gone to the local workhouse. I don't suppose it is unheard of that the widow abandoned her children to attempt a new life with an unsuspecting man. However the most likely is that she had died. There is a lot of proving to do!
 
It may be that the father or mother came from that area originally, and that some extended family still lived in that area where the poor orphans went to stay, maybe they then died or became ill and could not look after them and so the parish took them.
paul
 
Thanks for the infor and insights

As you say, a lot of proving to do, I'll start digging and see what turns up.

Although not a direct ancestor, the 15 year old boy (my Gt Grandfathers nephew), had a stint in the army in WW1 (and why wouldn't you given the choice of France or Meriden Workhouse) and lived until 1983. There is a story in there somewhere and I hope to find it.

Many Thanks
Paul
 
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