An 1885 record from Glasgow Poorhouse

[Russell]

David suggested a record of a poorhouse admission might be of interest.

Here's one from the Glasgow Poorhouse in 1885.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-930

The record is three pages long but subsequent pages relate more to James' frequent visits and don't tell a great deal more about his family, however some others contain a great deal more about family circumstances.

This Relief Application did not help us clarify why, with family still around, he was forced to enter the Institution. Again some give enough detail for you to form conclusions about the person and their personality.

Worth every penny though
Russell

Gallery URL added - AndrewP

[Liz Turner]

Hi Russell

Having never seen one of these before, it's very interesting to read one.

Liz

[emanday]

The 1901 one I posted would, on the face of it, make one ask similar questions about why a person with so many children around was placed in such a position.

Having looked at the picture of my rellies and their adult children's situations, and the situation they, as a close family, seemed to be collectively in, I believe applying for Poor Relief was probably the most sensible thing to do, albeit one where many folk in those days would rather have starved than resort to.

Don't get me wrong, I too was initially horrified that my ancestor had to do this with all those relatives around. Now I believe that the entire family were collectively struggling to survive.

[DavidWW]

The 1901 one I posted would, on the face of it, make one ask similar questions about why a person with so many children around was placed in such a position.

Having looked at the picture of my rellies and their adult children's situations, and the situation they, as a close family, seemed to be collectively in, I believe applying for Poor Relief was probably the most sensible thing to do, albeit one where many folk in those days would rather have starved than resort to.

Don't get me wrong, I too was initially horrified that my ancestor had to do this with all those relatives around. Now I believe that the entire family were collectively struggling to survive.

Place it in today's context and the various state benefits available....

David

[emanday]

I don't think you can compare them David.

When my mother was only a 9 year old child and her father suffered an industrial injury, there was no sickness pay while he was recovering. They had to "Go on the Parish". She clearly remembered the inspector going through their home and picking out items that could be sold to supplement their income before the Parish would help. (She also admitted that several items were moved into a neighbour's back bedroom before his arrival!). Her father and mother were made to feel inadequate.

She described the shame the family felt over this. Years later in her late 60's, never having claimed any benefits of any kind, when she became totally disabled with rheumatoid arthritis and had to claim benefits for things like extra heating, etc... her initial feelings were similar, but she soon came to realise that the modern benefit system was a whole different thing.