Pauper + Lodging House Keeper

[KitHannay]

Hi all,

My ancestor Jane was a 'Pauper + Lodging House Keeper' in the 1851 Census. She lived at 18 Marsh Lane, Bootle with five of her children. Her husband had died sometime between the birth of their youngest daughter in 1844 and the Census. He had been a bricklayer.

I'm just wondering what exactly Jane would have done in this role? Would there have been a lot of people staying in their house? Would this suggest she was poor? She had four children 14 and under who were recorded as 'scholars' so they were at school which might suggest they weren't in dire straights wouldn't it?

[CaroleW]

If she had lodgers - they would be listed on the census entry. 

Re term scholar - see this thread

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=750964.0

[rosie99]

As she was described as a Pauper then yes she would have been poor.  On the night of the 1851 census she had one Visitor in addition to her family.  Wiki has this on lodging houses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_lodging-house

You have her address as 18 Marsh Lane - 18 is the Householders Schedule number on the census, it is probable that the property had no 'house' number at that time.

[garstonite]

I don't live that far away - just to let you know Marsh Lane houses and shops are still there -

https://www.streetlist.co.uk/l/l20/l20-3/marsh-lane