What is a pauper

[stanmapstone]

Just to add that despite the intentions of the 1834 Poor Law Act, the vast majority - even up to 90 percent in the early 1860's - received outdoor relief (- i.e. outside the work house, not as an inmate).  This relief took the form of a small sum of money (one or two shillings), or income in kind (usually loaves of bread) or both. it was normally granted for reasons like the death of a husband, sickness, desertion by the husband, age and infirmity and occasionally it was granted to able bodied men out of work.
Stan

[kiwipom]

Hmm It's interesting that they had staying with them their 10 year old grandaughter.  The granddaughter's mother lived 2 doors away with her husband and rest of the family. 

sallysmum

Perhaps the presence of a 'dependant' enhanced the amount of relief the Parish would give.

[stanmapstone]

Perhaps the presence of a 'dependant' enhanced the amount of relief the Parish would give.

All it means is that she was with them on the night of the census, she could just be staying with them on the Sunday and gone home on the Monday morning.
Stan

[Shropshire Lass]

There's no way of knowing for sure but in addition to the suggestions already given - a ten year old would have been considered quite old enough to live-in with older relatives to help them with household tasks.  Or maybe the other family home was overcrowded and the grandparents had room for her?

Monica

[sallysmum]

Thanks for all the replies to this post.  I also received a PM which I also thought very relevant William was 81 and his wife 74.  This reply gives more food for thought - 

Unfortunately you do not give any indication of age but it is likely he was a retired cordwainer living just above the poverty line.
Possibly still doing some leather work occasionally.

I guess we will never know why the granddaughter was with William and Elizabeth - was she living or visiting?  I mentioned that her mother lived 2 doors away, this was with her husband who was probably not the father of the child which adds more intrigue.  Many thanks for all your enlightening replies.

Sallysmum

[nenny4]

I did not understand the meaning of the term either..   my grt grt grandfather was noted in the census and at  his death  as a pauper he was living with his wife at both the census time and  at his death..according  to the census record again she was employed..however an earlier census stated that he was blind so I have just put it down as to being unable to work and support himself.....previously he was a farm worker in the Livingston area Scotland

[Diane Parker]

The shame of needing parish relief must have been ingrained. My mother remembers my grandfather - born in 1881- not wanting to take his pension as he saw that as charity!
I have just found my great great grandparents in South Creake listed as paupers in 1881 - they were both in their early 60s. My g-g grandmother was just listed as a widow in 1891.
In 1861 my paternal gg grandfather, a widower, was lodging with a couple who were listed as paupers in Clenchwarton.

[coombs]

My ancestor was a servant and army pensioner. He much have been quite poor as his wife died of a long illness and was buried in a paupers grave, the records say parish expense.

So he could not afford to bury her, he had to get the parish to pay for her burial. Usually they used a very cheap coffin.

[nenny4]

After further research I discovered that the reason for my grt. grt. grandfather being classed as a pauper was that he was blind and unable to earn a wage.... So sometimes it's more beneficial to do more research you never know what you can find happy hunting