I have mixed feelings about Poorhouse records. It's great that the places existed to provide relief for those that needed them but when I run across death entries e.g. my g-g grandfather in Glasgow, I have to wonder why he was there and not living with a family member. His wife had died a year or two before and at that point he was working. He had children and grandchildren living in the area so I have had to ask myself if there had been a family rift or people had just lost contact with each other.
On the other hand I had ancestors who ran the poorhouse in Dundee and are well documented. When they died they were missed greatly by the local community and family.
A good site to visit for histories of Poorhouses/Workhouses in Scotland is
www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Scotland/UnionsScotland.shtml
Just as an example - the East Poorhouse in Dundee, which was run by some of my ancestors gives maps, information about when it was built, photographs, 1881 census records.
The site also gives a good overview of the 1845 Scottish Poor Law Act and the differences between Scotland and England/Wales when administering relief. The drawing shows a Model Poorhouse Plan for Town Parishes, 1847.
I found you while on Scotland for the Senses blog. I live in East TN and LOVE Scotland. I have ancestory on both maternal/paternal sides of my family...and have visited 3 times in the last few years. Id move there in a heartbeat if possible. Im following your blog now so I can jump back over and read about it...Im also on your Scot in TN blog! Have a great sunday!
ReplyDeleteThankyou for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment. I have enjoyed reading about your interest in genealogy - one of my daughters is researching our family history. Life was so different generations ago, and sometimes very harsh but it is a fascinating thing to discover the past.
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