Liverpool workhouse discharge and children's homes

[bunnyb]

Hi,

Can anyone help me decipher the handwriting in the "where to" column of a Liverpool workhouse discharge record?  The people discharged were children whose parents had just died in the workhouse in Dec. 1862  I've attached the photo of the handwriting in question.

[Winslass]

  It looks like  'Messenger home', but that doesn't make much sense.

  Winslass

[bunnyb]

That's what I thought, too, Winslass, but like you, I didn't think it made sense.  And it looks as though there's another symbol or letter before what I'm reading as an "M."  But thanks for your thoughts!  At least I know someone else sees what I see!
Bunny B

[ShaunJ]

Every workhouse had a messenger - were the children farmed out to one perhaps?

[bunnyb]

Hello, Shaun,

Could be.  Thank you.  Maybe the messenger took them home?  The children in this family were all left orphans when both parents died within days of each other, but there were older children still at home.  The older children were in their teens, so still minors, but maybe the younger ones who had been admitted to the workhouse were released to go home to their somewhat older siblings.  Does anyone know if this is possible?  I haven't been able to find any guardianship records about the children.

Bunny B

[ShaunJ]

Escorted home by a messenger seems more likely in the circumstances.

[bunnyb]

Thank you, Shaun.  Helpful to know this is what might have happened.  Now, I just have to find out what these kids did between being orphaned in 1862 and appearing in the census in 1871.  I appreciate your help.

Bunny B