Poorhouse.....

Davie · Post by **Davie** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 6:03 pm

Greetin's all
While trying to trace my maternal grandfather, Peter Finnegan, I found some information that led me to Inverness poorhouse.
My brother got in touch and they were kind enough to send him what info they had.
I thought that some of you would find the result of what they hold in these Institutions interesting.

Adam

Apologies for delay - your query was a bit of a jigsaw puzzle which has taken some time to piece together.

There is very little background information in the records regarding Catherine. Here are the details I have from the register:

Catherine was admitted to the Poorhouse on 8th February 1893. Her admission number was 3698. She was aged 33, single. Her employment was pedlar, Her religious denomination was Roman Catholic. Pregnancy was the reason for admission. Name of wife/husband given as: single. Number of children given as 2. Observation of condition: very dirty. Parish of settlement: Kilwinning. Left Poorhouse on 16th March 1893.

Along with Catherine - two of her children were admitted:

Number 3699 William Finnigan, aged 3, designated: bastard, Roman Catholic, Mother - Catherine Finnigan, very dirty, Kilwinning, admitted: 8th February 1893, left 16th March 1893.

Number 3700 Catherine Finnigan, aged 2, designated: bastard, Roman Catholic, Mother - Catherine Finnigan, very dirty, Kilwinning, admitted: 8th February 1893, left 16th March 1893.

Catherine had a boy born in the Poorhouse: Peter Finnigan born 1.45 am on 8th March 1893 (Number 3724).

Catherine was readmitted to the Poorhouse (3733) due to: debility and child on breast on 21st March 1893 and left on 4th April 1893. She was joined by 5 children: William (3736) and Catherine (3737), and:

John Finnigan (3734) aged 11, and James Finnigan (3735) aged 9, and Peter (3738) now aged 2 weeks. They also were admitted on 21st March 1893 and left on 4th April 1893.

John (3775), James (3776), William (3777) and young Catherine (3778) were re-admitted on 25th April 1893 and it is noted: Mother Catherine Finnigan in prison. They all left the Poorhouse on 1st May 1893. There is no mention of Peter at this point so I presume he is with his mother.

Young Catherine (4160) and Peter (4161) are re-admitted on 30 November 1894 and leave again on 4th December 1894. There is no mention of Catherine Senior or the other children at this point.

Catherine Senior next appears aged 36 (4395). Her employment this time is given as: Hawker. The reason for admission is given as: pregnant and has child of tender years. Catherine (junior) (4396) now aged 4 years was admitted at the same time. They were both admitted on 20th September 1895 and left on the 24th of September 1895.

It is 1897 before there are any further records. Catherine - senior now aged 38 (4836), Catherine - junior now aged 6 (4837) and Peter (4838) now aged 4 are admitted. The reason for admission is given as: pregnancy and young children. They were all admitted on 28th May 1897 and left on 7th July 1897. There is no mention of the other children. Catherine had another child in the Poorhouse - Isabella Finnigan (4871) who was born at 11.20am on 29th June 1897. Isabella left with the rest of the family on 7th July 1897.

Catherine junior (5218) aged 5 was admitted along with Isabella (5219) (aged one and a half years) on 18th March 1899. The reason for admittance was: mother in police cells for being drunk. They left the Poorhouse on 20th March 1899.

The final family record appears in 24th April 1902 when Isabella (5824) was admitted to the Poorhouse aged 5 years. There is no record of the others in the family at all and Isabella left on 26th April 1902.

I have checked the registers from this point on and there are no other occurrences of the Finnigans being involved with the Poorhouse again.

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 6:58 pm

OK so some of the wains were born out of wedlock, but did they have to be just so direct about it ?!

David

Davie · Post by **Davie** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:19 pm

Greetin's David
And my answer is Yes!
If that is the records these institutions have.
I want to know as much about my family as I can, warts and all.
The fact that they were B***ARDS" does not worry me.
The fact that they were Tar****S, is constant grief

Awrabest
Davie

gen10 · Post by **gen10** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:54 pm

Hya Davie
First of all what a fascinating story, those poor people.
Secondly, my 3x great grandfather was admitted to the poor house , Leith inveresk combination. He died there in 1886 as did his second wife. My question is this, how did you find out the facts and records of your ancestors stay in the poor house. I have contacted the local council in the Lothians and no-one seems to know where I can find out why he was admitted. Can you help, please.

GEN10

Post by **Merlot** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 8:02 pm

The fact that they were Tar****S, is constant grief

Happens aw the time Davie

Merlot

Lizzie · Post by **Lizzie** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 8:53 pm

How do you find?

There is a man in Glasgow name of Des Garrity who will find people admitted to the Poorhouse. I will never be able to thank him enough for finding my ggg grandmother in Inveresk Poorhouse where she died age 83
He also found he daughter my gg gandmother in the same position for two weeks due to unforseen circumstances in Glasgow Poorhouse.
The first grandmother was due to her husband died and she had no where else to go. She lived there about twenty years according to my calculations.
I have researched at lenghth and people were in there for all kinds of reasons. Man get's injured on the job, no money coming in. everyone has to go to the poorhouse, kids and all.

We cannot understand today, no welfare in those days. You could not work, you did not eat or have a roof over your head.

Lizzie

Davie · Post by **Davie** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 5:44 am

Gen10
The Brither wrote to the local council records office and they got back to us.
If you contact this lot, they should be able to assist you.
Midlothian Council Archives, 2 Clerk Street, Loanhead EH20 9DR, Scotland.
Awrabest
Davie

christine 1952 · Post by **christine 1952** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:02 pm

i have recently found out that my granfather died in dumbarton poorhouse it seems that if you could not work that was it you were just locked away with no dignity
its so sad
christine

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:26 pm

Davie

Just noticed that Catherine's "parish of settlement" was given as Kilwinning.

The parish of Kilwinning belonged to the Cunninghame Combination Poorhouse, for which excellent and detailed info survives in the form of the detailed inspectors' reports, so that it could be worthwhile checking before and after the Inverness dates.

David

maceill · Post by **maceill** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:57 pm

well done davie , on finding so much info, on your ancestors,i have been trying for two years to get info on st marys industrial school aberycrombie street glasgow,but after reading of your success it has given me hope
regards
eileen

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