'Inmate'? Stonehaven

[PWN]

I have a chap who registers his mother's death in 1884 and his father's death in 1896 and on both death certificates the son is stated as an 'Inmate'.

The family lived in Shorehead, Stonehaven.

If he had been a 'prisoner' then surely he wouldn't have been free to register his parents deaths. Did 'Inmate' have another meaning at this time?

Thanks, PWN

[Citizen Smith]

Hi PWN

Are you absolutely sure it says "inmate"? It could be an old profession that is spelled similarly.

Scotland's People have a list of old professions on their website and some links to further resources.

Also - if you could scan in the image and post it here someone might be able to read it.

I've often come across census forms for Poor Houses where those living there are described as inmates.  Could there be some kind of link with that?

Sarah

[andycand]

Hi

Inmate is an old term that means a person who lives with others in the same house. Today we would probably say Housemate or Flatmate.

Andy

[PWN]

Hi Sarah & Andy
Thanks for your input. It clearly states 'Son and Inmate' on both death certificates and you prompted my memory, Sarah, and I recall seeing the term 'inmate' on Poor House lists.

I have now checked all the census results for 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 and find that the children of this family didn't marry but remained together. After the mother has died in 1884, there are in 1891, 5 of these children all between 31 and 42 still living with their father. It would appear, Andy, that your reply is spot on and it just means that he was still living with the others.  Many thanks, PWN

[Citizen Smith]

That's interesting Andy, about it merely meaning living with.  Is the difference between an inmate and a boarder the fact that the boarder is paying rent?

Sarah

[Pat in Dundee]

Hello,

'Inmate' is the formal wording used in the Scottish registers of the time and has the meaning of 'living with' or 'at the same address'. I remember being absolutely astonished the first time I encountered it too!

And, yes, people residing in poor houses and hospitals were recorded as 'inmates' too - as were people in prisons or other penal institutions - and it is that usage of the word that remains today.


HTH
Pat

[PWN]

Hi Pat,

Many thanks for the clarification. I'll keep that in mind for future findings too.

You learn something every day!

PWN

[ev]

just to add -

Andy - post would agree with all the certificates i've come across

Sarah - as i understand it a boarder would pay for their food & lodgings
a lodger would just pay for their room(feel free to correct  )

however i know it was/is common in scotland for a family member who was working
but living at home to pay "board" to the head of the household

ev

[Citizen Smith]

Cheers all - very interesting distinctions and could come in handy in the future.
Sarah