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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Derbyshire => Topic started by: Althea7 on Monday 26 April 21 22:42 BST (UK)
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Does anyone know anything about the Belper Union Workhouse?
My ancestor Samuel Saunders/Sanders (records seem to mostly spell his name Sanders, but it varies, and I notice that a lot of names of my ancestors in this area of Derbyshire had varying spellings of their surnames, such as Walters/Waters and Halkin/Hawkin) died on 14th April 1873 at the Union House, Belper, age 89, Nail Maker, cause of death "Natural Decay". On the 1871 census he is listed as Inmate, Workhouse, widowed, nail maker, born Belper. On the 1861 census he is age 76 nail maker boarder living with his youngest son Jeremiah Sanders 29, his wife and two sons, Belper. 1851 census living with his son in law Sampson Seeds, shoemaker, and his daughter Elizabeth, and his son Jeremiah 17. 1841 widower with his children. His wife Millicent Walters, her name also spellt Melicant, born 1791 Pentrich, died 11th February 1840 Belper, "wife of Samuel Sanders, nailer".
My question is does anyone know anything about the Belper workhouse. I just gave some background information about my ancestor. I am fairly sure about his death record, have his death certificate, and fairly sure about his marriage to Millicent Walters/Waters. I am not certain about who his parents were, or exactly when and where he was born.
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Have you tried just doing a search for Belper workhouse.
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Try this:
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Belper/
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I am not certain about who his parents were, or exactly when and where he was born.
From the census records he consistently says born Belper and around 1784/6. There is a baptism at St Peter Belper on 26 December 1787 of Samuel to parents Samuel and Elizabeth SANDERS - a bit late but a possibility? I see they also have a John baptised 9 November 1786. (image on Ancestry)
[There is a Samuel baptised at Belper on 12 Jan 1784 which FreeReg have transcribed as SANDERS, but I think looking at the image it is SANDOM/SANDEM. SANDOM is a name which appears in the parish records elsewhere.]
FreeReg also have a baptism for a Samuel SANDERS at Ripley Unitarian Church on 9 Sep 1786 (born 26 Aug 1786) with father Samuel of Heage. Another possibility :-\
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His admission to the Belper workhouse on 12 October 1870, destitute, is shown here ...
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRVQ-S6D?i=357&cat=1857601
His death on 14 April 1873 is shown here ...
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRZ9-TGR?i=252&cat=1857601
The creed register confirms that he was a Dissenter (as stated on admission) ...
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6S27-QZH?i=44&cat=1857601
He was said to be chargeable to Belper, but the record office catalogue doesn’t show any settlement records that would expand on that. So I’m afraid you’re unlikely to find further family background for him in the poor law records.
https://calmview.derbyshire.gov.uk/calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=D3390&pos=1
If his parents were also dissenters, he may have been baptised outside the Anglican church. The survival of non-conformist baptism records is generally less good than for Anglican ones, but see the previous reply for some possibilities.
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His admission to the Belper workhouse on 12 October 1870, destitute, is shown here ...
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRVQ-S6D?i=357&cat=1857601
His death on 14 April 1873 is shown here ...
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRZ9-TGR?i=252&cat=1857601
The creed register confirms that he was a Dissenter (as stated on admission) ...
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6S27-QZH?i=44&cat=1857601
He was said to be chargeable to Belper, but the record office catalogue doesn’t show any settlement records that would expand on that. So I’m afraid you’re unlikely to find further family background for him in the poor law records.
https://calmview.derbyshire.gov.uk/calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=D3390&pos=1
If his parents were also dissenters, he may have been baptised outside the Anglican church. The survival of non-conformist baptism records is generally less good than for Anglican ones, but see the previous reply for some possibilities.
Thank you, this is fascinating new information, I didn't know he was a Dissenter, or that the reason he was admitted to the workhouse was because he was destitute. I was wondering why he was in the workhouse. From an early census he was living in the household of his son in law, and the next one with his son Jeremiah and family.
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I am not certain about who his parents were, or exactly when and where he was born.
From the census records he consistently says born Belper and around 1784/6. There is a baptism at St Peter Belper on 26 December 1787 of Samuel to parents Samuel and Elizabeth SANDERS - a bit late but a possibility? I see they also have a John baptised 9 November 1786. (image on Ancestry)
[There is a Samuel baptised at Belper on 12 Jan 1784 which FreeReg have transcribed as SANDERS, but I think looking at the image it is SANDOM/SANDEM. SANDOM is a name which appears in the parish records elsewhere.]
FreeReg also have a baptism for a Samuel SANDERS at Ripley Unitarian Church on 9 Sep 1786 (born 26 Aug 1786) with father Samuel of Heage. Another possibility :-\
Thanks for this information. At the moment who his parents were is something I need to research further, as what I had assumed is at odds with what other people have. I had assumed that his father was Samuel Sanders.
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Try this:
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Belper/
Thanks, that is very interesting.
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I didn't know he was a Dissenter
This isn't my area of expertise, but this might be useful ...
http://www.belper-research.com/records_polls/dissent.html
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I didn't know he was a Dissenter
This isn't my area of expertise, but this might be useful ...
http://www.belper-research.com/records_polls/dissent.html
Thanks, I bookmarked that. It looks as though Dissenters were a big thing in Belper. I have other ancestors who were Wesleyans, one who could write when that was uncommon for working class men.
I just felt curious that there was more to Samuel Sanders than just some poor old nail maker.
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Hello,
The bpt., quoted as 1787 St. Peter’s, Belper by Ancestry actually took place at St. John’s Church, Belper. St. Johns was an ancient chapelry of Duffield Parish Church, the church of St. Peter’s was not built until 1825. If you look at image 2 of the baptisms it states Chapelry of Belper
Only baptisms and some burials took place at St. Johns marriages were at Duffield Church.
This is image of St. Johns
https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101335668-church-of-st-john-the-baptist-belper
Informed Ancestry many times but no change as yet.
Spendlove
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Thanks Spendlove, that's good to learn and try to remember if I'm looking at this parish again. :)