RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Hertfordshire => Topic started by: Jaxyfone on Thursday 07 August 14 21:36 BST (UK)
-
Have just received my late father in law's birth certificate. We knew he was born illegitimate in 1923 and had always believed he spent the first three years of his life in the London Orphan Asylum. However, it seems he was born at 60 Vicarage Road which, it transpires, was the Watford Union Workhouse. One mystery solved - it appears someone, somewhere along the way, had the name of the institution all wrong.
But in the 'name and maiden surname of mother' box, whilst there is no father named and his mother is listed as expected, it goes on to say she was 'a printing factory hand of 22 Birchfield Terrace, Watford' in the same box as her name. Would this be the address of her employer or a former residence address? And why would it be in this box?
-
By the time she registered the birth - that may well have been her address
Is all the info in box 5 or is it split between box 5 and box 7
-
All the information is in box 5 and the birth was registered 13 days after the event
Is it likely she would have found employment so soon after giving birth to an illegitimate child in a workhouse?
-
No maternity leave back in those days. Unless somebody else was supporting her - she would have had to work
-
Hi
You may already be aware of this but if not, the London Orphan Asylum was in Watford after being moved from Clapton in 1872.
http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/data/places/places-w/watford/watford-london-orphan-asylum.htm
Hope this helps.
Maddie
-
Hi
One possibility is that your father-in-law was born in the Workhouse Infirmary which provided medical care for those that couldn't afford it back then. His mother may not have been an inmate of the workhouse but simply have gone in to give birth. If his mother, after leaving the Infirmary, was unable to look after your father-in-law she may have left him at the London Orphan Asylum.
Andy
-
she was 'a printing factory hand of 22 Birchfield Terrace, Watford'
Couldn't that simply be her occupation and her usual address? Not necessarily where where she worked.
-
She was possibly previously employed as a printing hand, and she lived at Birchfield Terrace.
It would be worth checking this to see what kind of house it was if it still stands. Was this the home of her parents, other family or lodgings do you know?
She probably went into the infirmary to give birth as Andy suggests. Most babies would have been born at home in that era but the circumstances may not have been suitable for that to happen, or perhaps she needed medical treatment.
Keep in mind that this was pre NHS. As an unmarried mother she probably had no choice.
She then returned to work as a printing hand. :-\
Just a possible scenario .... :-\
Added: red notification - I see groom is thinking along the same lines as me.
-
As with most workhouses, Watford Union Workhouse had an attached infirmiary.
That was where people went to get medical treatment if they couldn't afford doctors, or midwives, fees.
So I would suggest that she had the child in the infirmiary, and was discharged then went home?
EDIT: Sorry!
Just in from the pub and I failed to read the whole thread! :-[ ;D ::)
-
Thank you for these answers. I'm currently waiting for Dad's mother's marriage certificate (she married when he was three years old) and hoping that it contains some details of her family members so that I can attempt to find out a little more. I may, at some point, need to pay a visit to the local record office and see of I can see an registers of either the workhouse or the London Orphan School, but I need a clearer idea of where he was placed during those three years. Roll on 2021 when the census may be able to help me a little more.
Think I'm going to have to read up on workhouses in general. Seems all we're told, for the most part, the very worst parts of some of the earlier workhouses - the 'Oliver Twist' stories. Jennifer Worth, in her 'Call the Midwife' books discusses some of the more humanitarian practices of the later workhouses and tells the stories of some people who actually got their start in life and a decent trade thanks to their workhouse childhood.
I have read that by the time Dad was born, Watford Workhouse had stopped putting the title 'workhouse' on birth certificates so as not to hinder its inmates in later life. Instead they just put '60 Vicarage Road', which seems like a very forward-thinking thing to have done.
Not an ideal way to start or end your life, I suppose, but marginally better than starving or freezing to death on the streets. :-\
-
Plenty of information about workhouses on www.workhouses.org.uk
-
Hi
Some odd, almost useless "facts" . . . . .
Watford Printers Ltd were set up in 1921 and are at 58 Vicarage Road
So, you never know . . . . .
[ The Stadium is between the 58 and the old Workhouse Infirmary. ]
The old Workhouse Infirmary has been decorated and is now called Watford General. ;D
Birchfield Terrace would seem to have been in the area around Lower High Street.
Then #23 High Street. Aound them was Lamb's Yard and Woodmans Yard and New Road.
Easy walking distance to Watford Printers. Other printers are available :)
Ethel Rose Cook at #14 Birchfield Terrace, High Street.
Other BirchfieldTerrace addresses may be written in the style "20 Court, 23 High Street" )
Dingy area. http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/images/!/w/watford/watford-woodmans-yard-phipson%20small.jpg
Watford Sports Cars / Montesa Motor Cycles were in Woodmans Yard (Fairthorpe Cheetah)
http://www.fairthorpescc.com/fscc_Watford.html
Ray
-
That's not useless, Ray. It's actually quite useful. Thanks.