Cardiff Workhouse death

[missmolly]

Hi
Does anyone know where a person who died in the Cardiff Union Workhouse in 1907 may have been buried please

Thanks
Mo

[bernard_lewis]

Possibly in a family grave (if there was one) in a church cemetery or possibly in a grave in the local council (corporation) cemetery.

The council grave might have been a 'common' one (sometimes referred to as a 'pauper's grave') meaning that several unrelated persons (or stillborn children) might be buried in the same grave.

As an inmate of the workhouse the cost of any burial would have been kept to the minimum as it would (usually) be paid for by the local Board of Guardians.

Bernard

[missmolly]

Thanks Bernard for your reply and information

Thomas originally came from Somerset although his children were born in Cardiff. The one who is my decendant moved to Cheshire so will have to check on other children to see if any stayed in the area
There was an inquest held and the informant was the coroner so no clues there

Thanks again
Mo

[bernard_lewis]

Not sure if it still applied in 1907 but the Poor Law Guardians at Cardiff would have tried to minimise their expense in keeping Thomas in food and lodging by either trying to collar any nearby family to see if they could chip in a bit towards the cost (or - better still - take him out of the workhouse while still alive).

Beyond that the Law of Settlement meant that the pauper's 'home' parish was responsible for his upkeep when he was 'skint' while in another parish. Typically the home parish would be the place of birth but this might change where e.g. a man worked elsewhere as an adult and gained a settlement there (there were 'rules' on this) or e.g. where a woman married and then lived with a man in another parish - she 'adopted' his settlement place for poor law purposes.

If Thomas did have family in Cardiff it is possible that they took responsibility for his burial. Otherwise the Guardians probably had a contract with a local undertaker to sort it out at the contracted price (very few trimmings...)

Bernard

[missmolly]

thanks Bernard will investigate further and check where the children were in 1901 and 1911 and try to take it from there

Thanks Mo

[osprey]

you could ask for a look-up here 

http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2870,3139,3158,3964&parent_directory_id=2865&id=421

Searching the part of the database that has been computerised is free, but manual searches cost about £18. You could email to check.

[missmolly]

Thanks osprey will look at that (first reaction was £18... nearly 3 certs  ) but will keep the address for the future

Mo

[drian]

My great grandmother died in this workhouse in 1907 and was buried in Cathays Cemetery, Cardiff even though her home town was not Cardiff

[bernard_lewis]

If no family member came forward to claim the body it was the Poor Law practice to use a cemetery near to the workhouse. Costs were kept to a minimum commensurate with decency.

Bernard