Seeking Family of Mary Ann Fisher, born Oct. 1895, Basford

[CarolRR]

Thanks for the advice.  Since receiving the birth certificate, I have re-written the Ilkeston Historical Society and then the Nottingham Archives people asking for copies of Workhouse and any other records that may exist.
I am also wondering whether there might be records of employment in existence.  If Harriett Fisher was working as a 'domestic servant of Ilkeston" as shown on the birth certificate, would records exist of where she might be employed, or by whom? 

[Ruskie]

For some reason I did not get notification of replies to this thread, so have just been trying to catch up.

Carol, Great news that you have the correct Mary Ann birth certifcate. Not such good news about the death certifcate. Does anyone recall if there are any other likely death certifcates for Harriet Fisher or Hall (or might she have remarried?  ) I am not surprised there is no father named on Mary Ann's b/c - this is what we all expected. We have to consider the possibility that Harriett may not even have known who the father was.

Still awaiting a volunteer to look up workhouse records? I feel like jumping on a plane and doing it myself.

I think Cocksie is on the ball with what we still need to chase up.

Excellent! At least we are pursuing all avenues that we can think of.
Another thought..... In 1911 Alice Fisher is at "school". I wonder what school would be close by to the Bulwell workhouse (where the family appears to be in 1911) and if there are any records?
Cocksie

Adding
Looks like the workhouse ran a day school

I think it's the Bagthorpe Workhouse in 1911.

[Ruskie]

Mary Ann was born in the workhouse in 1895. So was Harriett just there to give birth or had she been an inmate for some time prior? A search of any workhouse admissions needs to cover this earlier time frame.

Though it does appear that poor Harriett was there for at least 16 years, I think a lot of people were regularly in and out of the workhouse. She must have been out for a time in 1896/7 when the events with Hall occurred. I wonder if she would have been free to come and go as she pleased?

[CarolRR]

Hi Ruskie - I was wondering the same thing as to whether Harriett could work outside of the Workhouse - could she have resided there, and left her children in the care of the Workhouse on a daily basis while she worked outside of the Workhouse as a "domestic servant of Ilkeston", as per the birth cert.?
Also, are the particulars for Mary Ann Fisher's baptism available - the date is Jan. 29, 1896, Ilkeston - I don't have other reference information needed to order the certificate.
Thanks everyone!

[janan]

Hi Carol

It would be worth contacting the Derbyshire Records Office

http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/record_office/default.asp

They may well be prepared to look at the record of Mary Ann's baptism for you and tell you if any other details are included. Otherwise they do offer a copying service for records where date is known.

Jan

[CarolRR]

Thank you Jan, I have sent a request for information to the Derbyshire Records Office.  Fingers crossed that something surfaces. 

[MonicaL]

I am holding my breath now for the key cert to arrive with you Carol...the marriage of James Hall to Heather Fisher. I am hopeful this will be more decisive overall. Where is it???

Monica

[cocksie]

Hi all
I relooked at both the 1901 and 1911 both institutions are listed as being in Highbury Road ..... Sounds like one and the same place .....or am I mad?

According to this Link

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Basford/#Links

Nottingham archives hold some Basford workhouse records and the University holds others - the university appears to hold more Basford documents relevant to this search I think.
The link above also has a map/plan of the Basford Workhouse on Highbury Road.
No doubt you have already seen this and I am a little slow.

It does appear to me (as I gain an understanding of how workhouses operated - you learn something new everyday!) that there was "indoor relief" (ie living there), "outdoor relief", "casual vagrant relief" etc. so I think there was a bit of coming and going.  This is a great list of documents that the archives hold regarding all the notts workhouses including Basford (also how limited their Basford holdings are):
http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/EasysiteWeb/getresource.axd?AssetID=153114&type=full&servicetype=Attachment

And I do think that one could have one's child born at the workhouse and the child be baptised elsewhere (ie back at the place where one might still have extended family to visit - uncles, aunts)
Cocksie

[trish58]

Mary Ann was born in the workhouse in 1895. So was Harriett just there to give birth or had she been an inmate for some time prior? A search of any workhouse admissions needs to cover this earlier time frame.

Though it does appear that poor Harriett was there for at least 16 years, I think a lot of people were regularly in and out of the workhouse. She must have been out for a time in 1896/7 when the events with Hall occurred. I wonder if she would have been free to come and go as she pleased?
[/quote

From my understanding of workhouses, inmates where allowed to go out to work and return, this helped to pay towards the cost of their upkeep. I am talking about a different time frame from this post (1940 and beyond) So it's possible that this could be the same for when Harriet was in & out.
My Mum has often talked about her days of nursing at the "Fishpool" workhouse in Bolton, she is now 94, and though her memory is not so good now I do remember the storys she told.

Trish.