What sort of inmate?

[Hanford]

Hello,

On the 1851 census my x great grandmother is listed as an inmate, how ever, the other people in the same household are listed as " head, concubine and Lodgers "
So I wondered why this was? If she was an inmate then I'd have thought she'd be in an institute with other inmates?

The head of the household is a shoe maker, an I read that concubines are usually for men of a different social class and usually very wealthy...

For anyone wanting to see the census the piece is 2123 and folio 458
 

[Old Bristolian]

Hi

I've come across a similar situation on a death certificate, where the informant is given as "inmate, present ot death", although the address at which the death took place is a family home. This was in 1846

Steve

[Hanford]

Ahh glad somebody else has found something like this 
Maybe inmate meant something different then? 

[skewbald]

Well a concubine was a woman who lived as a mans wife but not being married to him.   Skewy.

[skewbald]

Hi Rachey, I've just checked on a Workhouse website & inmates were "Farmed out". Sadly saving the overseers money, while providing cheap labour for somebody.              Skewy

[Sandymc47]

Hi there

A inmate in a house was probably under the guardianship of the master of the house,  As this man also had a concubine which means as mentioned someone living with a rich and powerful man, but not married to them. I can only presume that your inmate GGGrandma  was either ill and being cared for at his house or could have been given to him to look after instead of her being put in the poor house or jail.   She probably was very poor and no where to live.  I cant look at the census as I have no idea how to access them through those numbers you have given. Can you give her name as I live in Nottingham and probably know where the address or area is.

regards Sandymc

[jaywit]

They are not in Nottingham but in Sutton in Ashfield.

HO107; Piece: 2123; Folio: 458; Page: 22;

If you want to put a name in try Mary Saxton.

It does look like an odd set up.

[Hanford]

Evening skewbald, thank you for havin a look    In a way were they slaves? 


Hello Sandymc, you'd have thought the man would be very rich...but...he's just a shoe maker?    Unless he was a super duper shoe maker for royalty or something? 
I can't find him on any other census but this one, same for his daughter, so maybe he went back to Ireland...


And thank you jaywit, wasn't quite sure how t odo the number thing 
It is quite an odd setup, in 1841 Hanah is listed as Independent so I thought she may be wealthy... How ever, if that's definitely her on this census then I guess she wasn't?

Edit: changed " Were we slaves" to " Were they"

[skewbald]

Hi Rachey, indepedent just meant they were not claiming parish relief. i.e. doing day work or taking in washing and doing cleaning etc. As you summised it also meant you were rich, but I fear not in this case.
The concubine part can be wealth and class, but also religion. i.e. A Catholic who could not divorce may chose top live with somebody.
it's amazing how many people I've found in my tree in the 1800's who on losing the spouse were married again in a couple of months. All this was to keep you out of the Workhouse. i've brothers who married there sister in laws.

Skewy.