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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Bedfordshire Lookup Requests => Bedfordshire => England => Bedfordshire Completed Look ups => Topic started by: tilly56 on Thursday 26 July 07 11:16 BST (UK)
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I've just found my Gt-Grandmother Elizabeth Lancaster in the Leighton Buzzard workhouse in the 1891 census, along with three of her children (two of whom - twins - must be illegitimate as they are only 2mths old and her husband died four years earlier!). The two elder children Christopher and Rose Lilian, have left home (Christopher to London and Rose to her Uncle Levi in Leighton Buzzard). They were a Quaker family and I wondered whether this was why Elizabeth, in disgrace, was in the workhouse - could she have been disowned by the family? She already had an illegitimate son, (Harry Johnson - who I cannot find after 1881....) when she married Charles....
What sort of records are available for workhouse inmates and I how do I get at them?! ???
Also, is there any way of getting info about the Quakers in 19th century Leighton Buzzard?
Many thanks for any help.
Hilary
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Hi Hilary
If you go to this site;
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~peter/workhouse/
Using the Left hand side menu, select
"Workhouse Locations" then
"English Poor Law Unions" then
"Bedfordshire" then
"Leighton Buzzard"
The following records have survived and are held at Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service.
Guardians' minute books and ledgers (1835-1930); admissions and discharges (1891-98; casuals 1914-21, 1926-30); births (1858-1936); deaths (1858-1940); indoor relief lists (1852-1929, with gaps); etc.
http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/ArchivesAndRecordOffice/ArchivesAndRecordOffice.aspx
Rick :)
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Hello Rick
many thanks for your help - I shall have a look at the sites!
Hilary
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Hi
I have a book Workhouse Births and Deaths 1858 - 1900 for Leighton Buzzard. The only Lancasters born are twins Harold ilegitimate twin son of S A Lancaster born 25/1/1891 baptized 25/2/1867 and sister Else probably Elsie same dates obviously.
The book is available through BFHS
Hope this helps
Love Normsy
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I believe the book Normsy refers to is 'Leighton Buzzard Union Workhouse Births and Deaths 1858-1900'. To my knowledge this is not available from either Bedfordshire Family History Society or Buckinghamshire Family History Society (both of whom are sometimes referred to as BFHS) but can be obtained from the publishers - The EurekA Partnership - online at www.eurekapartnership.com
Orpheus
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Hi
Yes that's it! Sorry I must have got the link from BFHS!!
Love Normsy
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Hello Normsy
Thank you for your message - it's a long time since I've done any research on my Lancaster branch!
I worked out that the twins must have been illegitimate as Elizabeth's husband died before they were conceived - over a year before if I remember correctly - does it actually state in your book that they were illegitimate?
I think a son when she married Charles Lancaster, who I think was illegitimate, too.
Elsie died aged one (I think!). Elizabeth Sarah Anne Lancaster married again and left the workhouse - I now have a photo of her.... so a happy ending!
I must have another look at that tree and try and remember where I'd got to.
Tilly :)
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I live in Leighton Buzzard and the workhouse building still stands and it has been converted into offices. I could photograph the building and send it to you if you want?
Regards
Chris
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Hello Chris
thank you very much for your message - I'm sorry not to have replied before but my computer has been in the workshop!
Thank you for your kind offer - however, I do have a photo that one of my cousins sent to me a while ago.... but it was very nice of you to offer!! :-*
Best regards and Merry Christmas
Tilly