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Workhouse records

Hi

Yep my great grandfather Edward Jenks born well 1849 has been a bit of unknown.
My Grandfather William Jenks I knew well and my Dad 97 is still here.
After a lot of talking I asked my Dad what he knew of his Grandad.
He was never spoken about. All he knew was he got the sack for fighting at
work he was a cast Iron bed fettler in Digbeth and drank plenty and would
often swim home along the canal. Phew I thought.
searching the 1911 census I re-looked at his Family 10 children living will
in trafalgar road although his wife was declared Head. 1901 census 1911 census.
Anyway I found him here in the 1911 census at Western Road as an inmate.
His death certificate confirms him as a Bed stead Maker in 1919 at 73 years.
I have attached these details.
Birmingham Library have no individual patent details other than records of staff etc
and the History of the Hospital. It on-line anyway.
Car Chinn confirms this.
so where have all the records gone for a few million Brummies.
It just dont add up. Ive see the TV programmes were intial details are available
on admission etc and reasons why.
Ill have to keep on digging perseverance is my second name
I have added the Entrance to the gateway of Misery where Great Grandad went.

Mike Jenks
 

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Hi Mike, Thank you for this interesting article. My Grandfather was born in the Bromsgrove workhouse and it was always a secret until I started doing family history and my Mother told me the circumstances. He ended up having a good life marrying and having a family of four girls and a shop in Holloway Head.
 
It must be harrowing to find such information. I have a great granny who died in Wrexham workhouse. I think this was because her sons died before her, she had no one to look after her. Mike it sounds like drink was his problem this was common at the time especially for those who served in the forces. They also drank to block out the terrible living and working conditions. I expect the records were destroyed in the 60's along with many buildings. Ellaman I am pleased your grandfather had a good life and obviously worked hard to own a shop.
 
does anyone know at what age 'inmates' would have to leave ... would children in the 'asylum for infant poor' (as it was called) have to leave once they reached a certain age, or did they stay on as adults? I have what I believe to be my great-great-great-grandfather William Wiseman (1831-1886) recorded on the 1841 census as a boy of 12 ... this does not tally with all other census records, which all show he would have been two years younger, 10 not 12. I understand, however, that workhouse staff often fabricated the ages of children - making them appear older - in order to legally send them out to work, thus bringing money into the institution. I am unable to trace him any further back, but hope to look at more detailed records when I am next in Birmingham - I see that the library holds workhouse records, so I'm hoping to get some more accurate detail there. I do now that he married a Hannah Forrester in 1853: they later appear together as a family on census records for 1871 and 1886 ... previous to this, on the 1861 census, they are wrongly under the name of 'Wileman'. But no record of him on the 1851 census that I can see - he would be then 20. Any links or info from anyone on here would be much appreciated - thanks in advance!
 
Cornishbrummie:

The 1841 census is not a very reliable guide to age as the rule about rounding ages seems to have been applied very indiscrimately. My great grandfather was admitted to the Infant Asylum for the Poor shortly after birth in 1835 and my understanding is that he was trained to be a tailor and remained there until the age of 12 years. He was then apoprenticed to a tailor and upon the termination of his apprenticeship set himself up in business as a tailor and remained so until shortly before his death. I'm afraid that no records of this Asylum have survived.

Maurice
 
That is great thank you. And the 'tailor' thing has got me thinking .... another great-grandfather was a tailor (James Henry Cooper born 1867 in London, date and place of death so far unknown): I 've had real difficulty finding any definite record of him in his earlier years, so maybe the workhouse / asylum for infant poor is the way to go, seeing as this was one of the trades they were trained up for?
 
The records are all now destroyed? I thought the records were all now held at the library - didn't the Asylum for infant poor become the workhouse and later became Highcroft hosptial ... or have I got this all wrong???
 
Cornishbrummie:

The Workhouse for which some records do survive is the one that opened in 1852 in a new building. The Asylum for the Infant Poor was demolished in 1852 and no records survive at all.

Maurice
 
Highly unlikely. As my post #11 explains, my great grandfather simply didn't know who his parents were. I would dearly love to know as on the 1861 census he is shown as being 'partially deaf" at the age of 26. This deafness has been passed down the generations - my grandmother was profoundly deaf for most of her life (and she lived to be 85 years old), my mother (who lived to be 92) was very deaf, so am I, and two of my sons are now beginning to develop deafness in middle age - obviously an inherited genetic problem. So it would be nice to get further back to see where this problem is coming from. Like many Brummies, at least one of one of his parents most likely had rural origins. Alas, I shall never know.

Maurice
 
i hope i have pu this on the right thread
i have just found a death record for joseph orme who died in the workhouse and is buried in witton
would any one know if i could get a death cert for him at the registar office he died 1893 age 73 and stated he was married
thank you for any help given josie
 
josietrue said:
i hope i have pu this on the right thread
i have just found a death record for joseph orme who died in the workhouse and is buried in witton
would any one know if i could get a death cert for him at the registar office he died 1893 age 73 and stated he was married
thank you for any help given josie
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hi josie providing that joseph died in birmingham and i am assuming that he did then yes the registry office in town will be able to supply you with his death cert...

lyn
 
lyn
yes its says birmingham workhouse i presume it would be lodge rd workhouse
would you know if the records for witton cemetry are line thank you for you help josie
 
josietrue said:
lyn
yes its says birmingham workhouse i presume it would be lodge rd workhouse
would you know if the records for witton cemetry are line thank you for you help josie[/QUO

hi josie i think the birmingham workhouse was in western road where dudley road hospital is...i have seen a few deaths online for witton but they are not complete..if you phone them up and enquire i have always found them very helpful although sometimes you do have to wait a while for a call back from them depending on how busy they are

lyn
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lyn
my brains not working today i was thinking of all saints hospital in lodge rd
thank you for your help i will phone witton to see what they find josie
 
josietrue said:
lyn
my brains not working today i was thinking of all saints hospital in lodge rd
thank you for your help i will phone witton to see what they find josie
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dont worry josie my brain does not work well most days lol....actually im glad you posted about witton because ive still got to contact them myself...i know my grandad wood is buried there with no headstone but need to find out the plot..recently found out that my other grandparents are buried together at yardley cem..

good luck

lyn
 
My 3x Great Grandfather died in in the Workhouse Infirmary Western Rd. in July 1893. I emailed Witton after I had looked it up at the Library and they told me the plot number which was a public grave. The bad news is that the plot was recently covered in tons of soil and re-sold.
I wonder if they share the same grave? Section 154 grave 40586.
Best Wises, rosie.
 
hi rosie
i phoned witton and waiting on a reply i am going to the registrar office for his death cert
i am puzzled that it dont say infirmary i want to see who the enformer was on his death cert
josie
 
Hi josie, I'm sorry I should have been clearer!
The Infirmary part was for the sick inmates. The informant on his certificate was the Master T. Martin Hardie. I gather he was not as bad as some Masters were.
rosie.
 
Hi again, Just a thought...You can't have the certificates ready in an hour or so any more, except if you pay extra, might save you a journey. I'm not sure if Mr. Yates still works there, he used to be very helpful, on the phone.
rosie.
 
thank you rosie
i think john yates still works there it will be worth my while giving him a ring and possibly save myself a trip
josei
 
Carax said:
My Grandfather (Samuel Ward b 1885) was orphaned at the age of 3 and brought up in the Cottage Home of the Birmingham workhouse. He was born at Cregoe St. Birmingham where his father died just after Samuels birth.

His mother (Lavinia) died in the Western Road Workhouse in 1888.

Will the Workhouse records tell me where Lavinia is buried (and if the grave of a pauper would be marked in any way) ?

Will the records show me where Samuel went after leaving the home (at the age of 15 or 16 I think).

Is there anything else of interest the records may show me ?

I would be a long jouney for me get to the central libary, so I would like to know if it may be useful.

Thanks in advance to anyone who reponds.
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Hi, my great grandmother died at Western Road, she was buried in a paupers grave at Heath lane cemetery. It is possible to find where your relative is buried, I went to the crematorium and asked to see the records for heath lane cemetery and the date or year and they brought out a huge book and found my great grandmother. It told you the plot number and the date she was buried and also the people who were buried with her, in my great grandmothers case there were six, two of which were babies.
If you take the plot number to the cemetery there is a guy called Paul Penny who looked up and helped us find her as they are not marked also my great grandmother was buried in the children's section. Good luck in finding your relative with regards Elaine
 
Hello I've been told that a relative of mine was in the workhouse in central Birmingham in 1920. Can anyone advise me how I could find the record of her admission? Thank you
 
Birmingham Archives in the Library of Birmingham have some going back to 1880. Not sure whether yours would be included and whether or not they are subject to the 100 year closure rule. I think from what I read on here that they are a bit slow in answering emails - perhaps Astoness or one of the other regular visitors could advise further.

Maurice
 
sospiri said:
Birmingham Archives in the Library of Birmingham have some going back to 1880. Not sure whether yours would be included and whether or not they are subject to the 100 year closure rule. I think from what I read on here that they are a bit slow in answering emails - perhaps Astoness or one of the other regular visitors could advise further.

Maurice
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Thanks
 
Those records which do survive for Birmingham and Aston Unions seem to be at the Library bit are subject to the 100 year rule so are not normally accessible.
 
pjmburns said:
Those records which do survive for Birmingham and Aston Unions seem to be at the Library bit are subject to the 100 year rule so are not normally accessible.
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Thanks so much - that saves me a hunt then! I know it was definitely 1920 as it was following the birth of her baby who was born that year.
 
hi cassy..dont want to put a dampner on things but a few years ago i went to the library to ask about the workhouse records and was told non survived but others have said some did..maybe an idea to phone up the archives dept and ask them...could save you a wasted trip..i would be interested to know how you get on

all the best

lyn
 
Thanks so much Lyn - I live in Cornwall so would have to do this online. Think I might just drop them an email or something and ask what is available! Will let you know what happens. Cassy x
 
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