Merton Poor House Residence Lists

[Nettopsey]

Does anyone know where to find residence lists for the Merton Parish poorhouse for the period 1830-1850?  Even where to look in the 1841 Census would be helpful.

Thanks

James

[z]

Good Morning James

I am struggling to find a poor house in Merton so looked for a workhouse that would include Merton Parish and according to http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Torrington - that would be the workhouse in Torrington so took a quick look and found I think the workhouse here in 1841 - H0107 221 25 Folio 2 Pg1

Or alternatively a page by page search of Merton parish for 1841 might prove successful and starts I think around here H0107 243 Bk12 Dist 6 Folio 4 Pg 2 and H0107 243 Bk13 Dist 7 Folio 3 Pg 1

And just in case 1851 for you to search is here H0107 1894 Folio 303 Pg 1

Regards and Happy Hunting

Z

[JaneyCanuck]

In case this was an actual parish "poor house", before the establishment of workhouses, you might find this thread in Cornwall interesting:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=617291

If it was a poor house, I doubt that any records would survive, and it would be a matter of hoping to find traces in the censuses. Or is that what you have, and you're looking for further info?

[JaneyCanuck]

In 1841, Merton is in two districts: 6 and 7.

If you search that census for the name Joseph Risdon in Merton and look at the image, you will be at the first name on the 7 double pages for district 6.

For district 7, search for Philip Knight and you will be at the first of 9 double pages for the district.


In 1851 it is only in one district: 3.

If you search that census for the name Eliza Harvey, you will be on the first page. (The page begins with the parsonage.)


If you read through the images, you may find a household or households with the address given as Poor House(s), as it was in the case of North Petherwin.

[Nettopsey]

Z and Janeycanuck, thanks for the suggestions.  I will definitely try the page by page search of the 1841 census.

I have a transcript of the Merton Parish Baptisms from DFHS and they mention a George Seldon Halls and his mother Mary.  There is also a further note that Mary had come to the parish and been confined to the poor house as her husband (John Halls) had left her.  Her address in the transcript is also given as "Poor-House", while the addresses on either side are Merton, or cottages/small settlements very close by, e.g.  Potheridge.  The date of the baptism is for George Seldon Halls is Feb of 1836, but there seems to be no George or Mary that match in the 1841 census, which is why I am curious about poor house records specifically for Merton.

[JaneyCanuck]

In 1841, there is a Mary Halls aged 25+ living in a Halls household in Halls Cottage in Merton.

Immediately above them is a Gifford household that includes a George Latey, aged 4. He is separated by a single line from the Gifford household, indicating he is not a child of theirs but rather is some other relation or a nurse child or boarder or visitor. (Anc'y pulls its usual trick and transcribes him as if he were in a household of his own.) The Giffords don't seem to be related (probably Thomas Gifford and Eliza Lewis married 1838).

I can't find any further trace of that George (in 1851 or in BMDs).

But with Mary having "come to the parish" ... she may very well have left again by 1841, and may also have partnered with someone else and used his surname  ...

Do you have information about her and/or George later in life? The name George Seldon Halls doesn't appear in the GRO index.