Robin Carter wrote: > Were there admission registers for workhouses in the 1800's? Yes, there would have been but whether they've survived is another matter. There are the Poor Law account books which might make mention of the mother and her children. Support was paid for the children but not the mother although the money would have been given to her. > I have an individual who appears to have lived at the Spalding > Workhouse , born in Kent ,and although a single woman had several > children born while she was a resident there. Since she was born in Kent, why not name her and give specific dates? Someone might have more information on her that could help you. She may have been in the infirmary attached to the workhouse rather than the workhouse itself if she were having a child and/or was ill. Her other children would have been cared for in the workhouse. > She was a fieldworker , is possible there were different fathers > for her children? Yes, it's possible the children had different fathers or she could have been in a steady relationship with one man who she didn't marry for some reason. It might be they didn't want to marry or that he was married to someone else. Have you checked the parish registers to see if there's any mention made of the father? The incumbent might have entered the alleged father if he knew or could get the name from the mother, but it wasn't required and most incumbents didn't mention it even if they did know. > I am trying to get a birth certificate for my husband's grandfather > who according to his family, was an orphan. I have checked the > cenus but grandfather changes his birthplace on at least two. Was he born pre, post or on the cusp of civil registration which began 1 July 1837? If he was born on or after 1 July, do any of the places he claims for his birth match with any entries in the GRO indices? Bear in mind the place in the index are registration districts so cover a number of parishes. Could you give the grandfather's name? Again, someone might have some information that might help you take the next step back. -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton, Greinton and Clutton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk