Hi again again I have just received two death certificates and I find that I wonder about the place that they both died. One certificate lists the death as being in the "Little Almshouse, Croydon". Later, her daughter died in the "Almshouse, Croydon". As I understand it, an almshouse was different from the work house and were there to help the poor. But, the first death was for the same Ann Dalton that I earlier posted a question about and mentioned parts of her husbands will in which she was left an interest in several houses and the grocery store. Unless something very unfortunate happened to that wealth was there another reason that she (and her daughter later) were in the almshouse? Could it have been also something along the line of a nursing home where one could live out their last few days? Bill in sunny Gig Harbor

Hello Bill Almshouses were, in a sense, the forerunners of workhouses. They were founded, often by Livery Companies, corporate bodies or private wealthy individuals, as homes for the elderly deserving poor. Residents were often subject to quite strict rules, especially in relation to religious observance. By the 19th century, getting a place in an almshouse would have been a stroke of luck for an elderly person, Ann would have had to have quite limited means to qualify. The "Little Almshouse" in Croydon was founded in the sixteenth century by the Parish of Croydon on land owned by the existing Elis David Almshouse (established a century or more earlier by Elias David, a City mercer). If your Ann ended her days in an Almshouse then it is highly probable that the money had somehow been spent, or had never existed. Just because a will appears to leave this, that and the other does not mean it actually exists. Wills could be made some years in advance of death and it is not that uncommon for the actual estate to be somewhat different from the assets referred to in a will. Hope this helps Caroline > > I have just received two death certificates and I find that I wonder > about the place that they both died. One certificate lists the death > as > being in the "Little Almshouse, Croydon". Later, her daughter died in > the "Almshouse, Croydon". As I understand it, an almshouse was > different from the work house and were there to help the poor. > > But, the first death was for the same Ann Dalton that I earlier posted > a > question about and mentioned parts of her husbands will in which she > was > left an interest in several houses and the grocery store. Unless > something very unfortunate happened to that wealth was there another > reason that she (and her daughter later) were in the almshouse? Could > it have been also something along the line of a nursing home where one > could live out their last few days? > > Bill in sunny Gig Harbor

Alms houses were council houses for elderly people they still have them today but they are not called that any more Keith -----Original Message----- From: Bill Dalton Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 2:20 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [SRY] A death in the almshouse Hi again again I have just received two death certificates and I find that I wonder about the place that they both died. One certificate lists the death as being in the "Little Almshouse, Croydon". Later, her daughter died in the "Almshouse, Croydon". As I understand it, an almshouse was different from the work house and were there to help the poor. But, the first death was for the same Ann Dalton that I earlier posted a question about and mentioned parts of her husbands will in which she was left an interest in several houses and the grocery store. Unless something very unfortunate happened to that wealth was there another reason that she (and her daughter later) were in the almshouse? Could it have been also something along the line of a nursing home where one could live out their last few days? Bill in sunny Gig Harbor *************************************** Send your List messages using **PLAIN TEXT** and always **TRIM AWAY** superfluous old messages in replies. List Admin can be contacted at: [email protected] ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Almshouses were usually provided by local paternalistic philantropic rich people such as the lord of the manor or local business men who wanted to be remembered. They paid for the houses to be built and put money in trust to pay for the maintenance and subsidise the rent. There would be a restriction on who could live there; usually the poor of the parish or adjoining parish; sometime elderly spinsters of the parish; sometimes elderly farm workers of the parish. There are hundreds of these across the country. You may find that some have ridiculously low rents or that the tenant had to perform some task to acknowledge the generosity of the founder. I know of one where the residents had to ring a bell on the wall when they pass in and out of the scheme although I don't know if they still have to. The row of houses was at the gate of his estate so he could feel good about himself every time he left and arrived and could feel good about himself every time he heard the bell ring. Try googling. Philip Maddocks ----- Original Message ----- From: "Keith" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 6:38 AM Subject: Re: [SRY] A death in the almshouse > Alms houses were council houses for elderly people they still have them > today but they are not called that any more Keith > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bill Dalton > Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 2:20 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [SRY] A death in the almshouse > > Hi again again > > I have just received two death certificates and I find that I wonder > about the place that they both died. One certificate lists the death as > being in the "Little Almshouse, Croydon". Later, her daughter died in > the "Almshouse, Croydon". As I understand it, an almshouse was > different from the work house and were there to help the poor. > > But, the first death was for the same Ann Dalton that I earlier posted a > question about and mentioned parts of her husbands will in which she was > left an interest in several houses and the grocery store. Unless > something very unfortunate happened to that wealth was there another > reason that she (and her daughter later) were in the almshouse? Could > it have been also something along the line of a nursing home where one > could live out their last few days? > > Bill in sunny Gig Harbor > *************************************** > Send your List messages using **PLAIN TEXT** and always **TRIM AWAY** > superfluous old messages in replies. > > List Admin can be contacted at: [email protected] > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > *************************************** > Send your List messages using **PLAIN TEXT** and always **TRIM AWAY** > superfluous old messages in replies. > > List Admin can be contacted at: [email protected] > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message