Born in Workhouse

[GAJM]

Currently researching the baptism records of children of my great great grand parents Timothy O'Connell & Ellen Clifford. And interestingly one of their children was born in Workhouse in 1880. But the rest were born in the townland they lived.

Is this a sign that the family fell on hard times had lost the land they were renting etc.??

I have heard so much about the workhouses during the famine in the 1840's. But this was in 1880 so could be an interesting story as to why they ended up there. Also would such Workhouses have kept records? That might still be available. It was Kanturk Workhouse, Co.Cork.

[murraymints]

Most Workhouses throughout Ireland also housed the local hospital so its quite possible that the birth occured there. I have known many cases where a child was born "in the Workhouse" when the family had a perfectly good home! Most probably because the birth was a difficult one or there were problems with the pregnancy.

This also applied to deaths "in the Workhouse" - especially in the later years of the 19th Century. This reference does not necessarily mean that the person had fallen on hard times and was a pauper.

Records are available for most Poor Law Unions and these usually contain records of the Workhouse for the particular PLU. Some records are better than others though!!

Hope this helps!

[liverpool annie]

This isn't what you asked for Gerard ... but thought this maybe of interest ...... 

http://www.institutions.org.uk/workhouses/ireland/ireland_workhouses.htm

Annie 

[GAJM]

Thanks for the replies just did a bit of goggle search there and it looks like the Kanturk Workhouse later became the local hospital