Researching Family History Can Be So Tragic

[BillyF]

in the late 60s when my grandmother had pneumonia, she had made my granddad promise not to send her into hospital; now I know that her  mother Alice was born in the workhouse I wonder if that was the reason.

I`ve no idea if she knew , Alice was one of 5 illegitmate children.

[coombs]

Getting sent to a workhouse must have been absolutely terrible. I can't imagine how awful it must have been dying there as well. Cerebral Disease, sounds very vague, I wonder what that would be diagnosed as now?

Another one of my Blenkinsopp ancestors died during a game of cricket in 1921. He was playing cricked in a shipbuilding yard using a rock as a ball, and was struck on the head and died soon after. It's sad, but not as bad as dying of Marasmus or drowning.

JackB

In 1848 her youngest son was 20 then and was a litho printer. She had lived in London/Middlesex since at least c1810/1811, and said "not born in county" in 1841 census (Middlesex). Her death was registered in Feb 1851 by a fellow inmate. Even if she had lived to the 1851 census in late March, there was a chance she may have forgotten her birthplace, or was too ill to answer questions. Hard to say what cerebral disease was. I have seen several "NK" for workhouse patients in censuses after 1841.

[Pennines]

The Workhouse in my home town was built on a hill, so that everyone could see it. The building acted as a deterrent, so that residents of the town, would try NOT to need to go in there.

In the 1920s it actually became one of the hospitals for the town - and I understand that people were initially reluctant to go into that hospital because of it's connotations with the Workhouse.

The link below will lead to the 'Rules' of the Workhouse in Blackburn, Lancs - which were no doubt similar to those of other towns. It is transcribed below a small copy of the document. Some are quite humourous - such as being fined for swearing and cursing - or wearing clogs upstairs.

Children under 13 having ears, neck etc washed every week (I think) - and other rules regarding broken chamber pots etc.

https://www.cottontown.org/Health%20and%20Welfare/Institutions/Pages/Workhouses.aspx

Sorry - I didn't mean to change the subject of tragic deaths - but, yes - there was a hospital part to a Workhouse, as mentioned previously. Hence if you have a death in the Workhouse - it may have been in the Hospital section.

[JackB015725]

This must be why my ancestor, George Scott Blenkinsopp died in The Govan Poor House in 1869, rather than his own home (Marlow Street in Glasgow).

He had developed Typhus fever, and after his death the family had no stable income and moved back to Sunderland lived in a number of slum dwellings.

JackB

[coombs]

I have an ancestor who died in the St Pancras workhouse in January 1885. It was the hospital section, as he was only admitted the day before, and had chronic bronchitis. Ironically he is the son of the ancestor who was admitted to the workhouse in 1848 in Marylebone and died in Feb 1851. I think she was likely in the hospital section. She was 60 when she died.

[louisa maud]

Sadly when researching  our family history we have to accept what we find,  I remember  discovering a Gt aunt had married before she was 15 but said she was 21, a very well educated  relation was appalled,  me some 20 years younger almost had to give him a talking to and remind him whatever happened  in history sadly we have to accept it, we cannot change it, my Swedish Gt grandfather  died listed as a workhouse but I have always believed it was  part of a hospital where he needed care, thankfully things are so much better.

LM

[aghadowey]

History is full events and family history is no exception.

In one family I researched- eldest daughter (newly married and just pregnant) was shot accidentally at her employer's house (young man later committed suicide). Girl's parents then moved to Scotland, mother gave birth to another child (mother and baby died shortly after), followed not too long by the girl's father. Several young brothers sent to Canada as Home Children and the remainder of the family split up- a few sent back to Ireland to live with father's brother (he had his own large family and couldn't look after all his orphaned nieces and nephews). I originally heard to story from Canadian family members.

[ThrelfallYorky]

The furthest back I can find Blenkinsops is a George Blenkinsop c1732 - 1801, grandson of a Thomas Blenkinsop c 1660 - 1721.in County Durham / North East area.
There's a lot of 'em around!
TY

[coombs]

Pandora's Box will be opened with family history. I am not too worried as these things happened generations ago and were part of life, while it can be a slight shock when you get a census entry, a BMD cert or army/navy record which reveals something, it can be exciting. The 1921 census revealed that my 15 year old 2xgreat aunty (born Nov 1905) in Stambridge, Essex, had a 5 month old son in June 1921.