more information on inmates

[marion crawford]

hello, I was wondering if anyone could give me any further information I found my GG Grandfather as an inmate in the 1901 census, it does not list the name of the institution, I was wondering if there was any way of finding out more information...re: what crime he might of committed etc.. thank you his name was Hugh Spence and he was married to Margaret Spence, listed as profession was Carter and he was 45 years old at the time

[hallmark]

Census of where?

England?

Ireland?

??

[philipsearching]

Greetings.

If you can load up an image of the register (Ancestry, Findmypast or whatever) you should be able to use the arrows back to previous pages until you get to the first page which should give the name of the institution.

An institution is not necessarily a prison - it could be a workhouse or hospital.

Philip

[Christine53]

Is this the 1901 Scotland census ? Hugh Spence 45 born Ireland ? Unless you are using ScotlandsPeople  you cannot view the image, so cannot go backwards through the pages, however , if this is the correct entry,  it does indeed tell you the name of the Institution. Below "Occupation : formerly Carter" is "ED : Govan Poorhouse."

[philipsearching]

Is this the 1901 Scotland census ? Hugh Spence 45 born Ireland ? Unless you are using ScotlandsPeople  you cannot view the image, so cannot go backwards through the pages, however , if this is the correct entry,  it does indeed tell you the name of the Institution. Below "Occupation : formerly Carter" is "ED : Govan Poorhouse."

Nice work, Christine!

I suspect Hugh was probably out of work or unable to work (illness) and unable to earn enough money to survive outside the poorhouse.

[marion crawford]

Hello, Thank you for your input, I did find this on Scotlands people, but what I found strange was that his wife and children are on the 1901 Census living at 25 Albert Street, Govan without him, is that not strange? I was thinking he was in prison, would there be a reason he would be in the poorhouse alone?

[iolaus]

The poor house was often also the local hospital for those who didn't have much money (although many people would avoid going in at all costs because of it's other role)

[KGarrad]

Some information re Govan Poorhouse here:
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Govan/

Where it says:
In 1867-72, a new poorhouse, a 240-bed general hospital, and a lunatic asylum for 180 patients, were built at on a new site at Merryflatts.