Royal Orphanage 1901 Worcester

[Kevinshouse]

Could any help me to find any information regarding the above.  I have done some reaserch for a friend of mine, her father was a young boy of 11 years in the orphanage in 1901 Robert C Purnell.  I have tried to find out about the orphanage but have not been sucessful.  Any help would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks I have not used the Worcestershire Board

[fred1951]

Hi

On the enumeration district page.......

The Royal Orphanage
Institution for Orphan Children
Goldthorn Hill
Wolverhampton

Hope this helps

Julia

[Kevinshouse]

Many thanks for your reply Julia it is very much appreciated.

Kind regards Susan

[Nemo]

Hi

If your friend's father was in an orphanage in Worcester, then it was probably the Royal Albert Orphanage. Henwick Road, St Johns, Worcester.  The County Record Office (CRO) at County Hall , Worcester has letters, certificates and inmates nomination papers for the period 1868 to 1943.

I remember reading about the orphanage in one of the books written by Philip Adams either “Memories of St Johns” or “More Memories of St Johns", not all of the children were orphans, some were from families that had fallen on hard times.

The CRO will be closed to the public for stocktaking from 17 to 29 November.  If you don’t mind waiting I can check for Robert C Purnell some time in early December.
HTH
Nemo

[Kevinshouse]

Thank you Nemo for your reply, I know that my friend would be very grateful for any information on her grandfather. Yes,  I agree with you I too believe it was the Royal Albert Orphanage.
Many thanks for your offer of help

Kind regards Susan

[Nemo]

Hi Susan

I have checked, as promised, the possible entry of Robert C Purnell into the Royal Albert Orphanage in Henwick Road, Worcester and find that his sister Catherine Matilda entered the orphanage in November 1892 and left when she was sixteen, to take up a position as maid to Miss Sandys of the Dower House, Ombersley. (a relation of the then Lord Sandys of Ombersley Court)

Fortunately Catherine’s nomination papers confirm that whilst the other children were at home, one of her brother’s - not named, but presumably your friend’s father - was elected to “the orphanage at Wolverhampton at the last election”.  The Royal Orphanage at Wolverhampton has already been mentioned by freddiebean (Julia) on 10 November 2008.

Catherine’s father was Robert Cooper Purnell who had died on 14 Feb 1899 of double pneumonia. He had been furniture remover and corn merchant in Worcester for many years.  The family had fallen on hard times and they had nine children to support. Three by his first wife and six by his second wife Anne Barrett Cooper nee Wright.

Catherine had been living with her mother and 5 other siblings, not named, just their ages at 16 Nelson Road, St Johns, Worcester.

There is more information that your friend might find interesting. Fortunately in Catherine’s case the records are more than 100 years old, so your friend can obtain a copy  of Catherine’s case papers from the County Record Office by quoting the following:-
Bulk Accession 5704. Reference 705:686. Case papers 356 for Catherine Matilda Purnell. I did not enquire about the cost, but you could send an email, or telephone them to find out.

You will find the freeBMD website has details of your friend’s grandfather’s birth, marriages and death, so you will be able to order any certificates that you want from the Registration Service at Worcester.
Go to www.worcestershire.gov.uk and the link to “order/pay for it” birth marriages and death certificates.

Robert Cooper Purnell Senior’s father may also have been another Robert Cooper Purnell. More information on the freeBMD website.

Regards
Nemo

[Dai bark]

Hi,

I descend from a sister of the eldest Robert Cooper Purnell and I would like to share information.   Please write to me privately if you would like to swap.

Dai