Hello Sheila Thank you for your help. The workhouse - one can only imagine! Very much appreciated Marcelle Western Australia

I see that someone found your family for you. Have to tell you I didn't get a chance to search further because in searching for your family I found a clue that sent me searching for info on my family and ended up answering a lot of questions I had. Karma! I have a subscription to genes reunited which has BDM records and the censuses from 1841-1911 so if you need more help just ask. I'm still learning but hopefully I can help cheers Sheila -----Original Message----- From: mvs Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2012 10:27 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [MDX] COLES - KINSHELA Hello Sheila Thank you for your help. The workhouse - one can only imagine! Very much appreciated Marcelle Western Australia ************************************** Send your List messages using **PLAIN TEXT** and always **TRIM AWAY** superfluous old messages in replies. **MEANINGFUL Subject Lines - who, what, where, when, with SURNAMES in CAPITAL letters** 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

. > > The workhouse - one can only imagine! However, a lot of attitudes to the workhouse are based on Dickens, a very unreliable reporter. He was a middle class boy suddenly dumped in a workhouse for a very short time, because his father was an idle drunk (think Micawber). The culture shock stayed with him. To the average poor person admitted as a last resort. the workhouse meant a roof over one's head instead of a corner of the street, a dry habitation rather than damp, mouldering cellar or rain coming through the attic ceiling, regular meals of reasonable amount even if dull, freedom from battering or exploitation by drunken parents, basic education for all and a chance to learn a simple trade for children. A lot of people anyway were using a workhouse just for its infirmary facilities, if they could not get a letter to admit them to a hospital in time. True, once the inmate was warm, dry and stronger, he might start fretting for freedom, a luxury which just mean pain and grief for the really poor. Most workhouse authorities were only too pleased if people left and got a job - saved the Union money. > EVE Author of The McLaughlin Guides for Family Historians Secretary, Bucks Genealogical Society