1851/61/71 - Smith - Towcester

[wamwig]

Yes I did

Hi

I believe one of my ancesters may have been in Towcester workhouse, he would be John Smith who was born in 1840 or 1841 and was listed in the 1851 census as in the workhouse. My gt grandfather was born in Towcester in 1840 or 1841 as either John Samuel West Smith or Samuel John West Smith and was then an apprentice bootmaker in Northampton in 1861. I was just wondering if there was any record of the John Smith in the surviving workhouse records that could possibly confirm, or not, whether it is my John Smith.

Many Thanks


Anthony

[Arranroots]

Fingers crossed now then, Anthony!

 

[wamwig]

Hi all

Just received this from Northampton County Archives


Thank you for your e mail of 13 March 2006.


Unfortunately few early records survive for Towcester Union Workhouse which would give information about inmates. The admission and discharge registers only survive from 1901. There is a register of deaths 1837 - 1930 (Ref: PL 11/225) but this would only be relevant if John Smith died in the workhouse.

There is also a Board of Guardians minute book 1847 - 1853 (Ref: PL 11/4). The Boards of Guardians minute books relate to the administration of the workhouse and some include occasional reference to inmates by name. The Research Service here could look at the Guardians minute book 1847 - 1853 for any entries relating to John Smith for a charge of £15 for an hour research. However it is not very likely that information on your ancestor will be included in this register. If you would like the Research Service to look at the Guardians minute book on your behalf please download the application form on our website at www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Community and Learning/Record Office/Services, fill it in and return it here together with your payment.


I hope that this information is helpful.


Yours sincerely

Enquiries Archivist

So unfortunately that doesnt look very promising either, unless someone happens to be in the Northants County Archives.

Regards

Anthony

[Arranroots]

Blimey!  I do it for free in Gloucester!

Still, that is how they finance saving the documents in the first place, I suppose.

Now what??

A 

[Tati]

Had we already searched for a birth?

Samuel John West
September 1841
Towcester
15 379

(or John Smith
March 1840
Towcester
15 381)

(from an incomplete free index - there may be others) 

[wamwig]

Tanja

I thought we had and not found one, Samuel John West seems like a 99% sure, or as sure as anything is in this story, at least that is what he is on my grans birth certificate. I shall add that to my order to the GRO. Well done I was beginning to think there wasnt a birth record.

Where did you find that as I'm sure I looked on Ancestry and didnt find anything, although I could be wrong of course.

Wonder which one is the one in the workhouse in 1851, possibly mine as the other would be 11 at the time of the census?

Anthony

[Tati]

I suggest you try again 

 

[wamwig]

Ah thats because with his age on later census, and when the census was undertaken, I obviously didnt go far enough and completely forgot about the possibility of rounding up ages. Still got lots to learn!

Anthony

[wamwig]

Tanja

Just read your post again, was that a Samuel John West or a Samuel John West Smith?

Anthony