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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: boland on Sunday 18 May 08 19:17 BST (UK)

Title: Poor Law Applications
Post by: boland on Sunday 18 May 08 19:17 BST (UK)

Hi

If you were arriving from Ireland to Scotland would it be likely that they would apply for poor relief, if this is the case where would I find the information... Am talking about 1839

Any clues?

Thanks

Bol

Title: Re: Poor Law Applications
Post by: Guy Etchells on Sunday 18 May 08 19:22 BST (UK)

No, not unless the family came from Scotland originally, otherwise they could find themselves on the first boat back to Ireland.
Cheers
Guy

Title: Re: Poor Law Applications
Post by: boland on Sunday 18 May 08 19:26 BST (UK)

Thankyou

Could that mean they had relatives already living in Scotland when they arrived?

Title: Re: Poor Law Applications
Post by: Rockford on Sunday 18 May 08 19:27 BST (UK)

Hi Bol,

I don't think it would be an automatic thing that arrivals from Ireland would appy for poor relief, as it would depend on their circumstances and whether they had been able to find work etc.  They probably wouldn't be eligible on arrival and would have to have been in Scotland for some time before 'qualifying'.

The Mitchell Library in Glasgow would be your best best, although be aware that most of the records they hold relating to poor relief date from the 1845 poor law.

See http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Libraries/Collections/Localhistory/CityCouncilArchives/poorlawarchives.htm

for more information.  The records aren't onlin, so you'd have to go to Glasgow, or find someone who could look at them for you.

Best wishes

Rockford

Title: Re: Poor Law Applications
Post by: boland on Sunday 18 May 08 19:29 BST (UK)

Thanks for the information...

Bol

Title: Re: Poor Law Applications
Post by: Kate B on Monday 19 May 08 13:32 BST (UK)

I emailed the Mitchell Library and asked them to find any Poor Relief records for my family and gave them names, dates, ages etc.

They charged £10 (cheque only) and sent me copies - a couple of weeks later - of the application.

Title: Re: Poor Law Applications
Post by: boland on Monday 19 May 08 20:53 BST (UK)

Where they specific dates or just general because in all the census' they were working although they could have applied in the intervening years might e-mail the mitchell

thanks for that

Bol

Title: Re: Poor Law Applications
Post by: Kate B on Tuesday 20 May 08 15:06 BST (UK)

As far as I remember, I gave them the name of my GGGrandmother and the names of all her children, as well as the the birth dates of the eldest and youngest of the family.  I also gave them the district where I assumed they would be (the Gorbals!!!).

Why not contact the Mitchell and give them the info you have and ask if they could trace the family's application for relief?