POOR LAW UNION RECORDS for NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

Admission procedure

An individual could admit themself or be referred by the parish or Relieving Officer. Details would be entered in the Admission and Discharge register and often in the master’s journal. These admission examples are from Northampton Union.

1877: Goodman Ann aged 16 years. single, shoeworker, venereal, destitute, Born at Winslow, been in Northampton five years. 
Izzard – Sarah aged 27 years, independent, charwoman, Married and destitute, and 2 children Anne 4, Maria 2, husband in prison, he is a native of Weedon.

Vagrants were housed in casual wards and there are separate registers for these admissions.

Discharge

A person could leave at their request. If an entire family came innto the worhouse, then they left as a family. You could ask for short-term absence to visit family members, and able-bodied men were allowed out to find work. Some people treated the workhouses as free lodging, coming and going as the mood or the weather took them! You can follow their trail in the registers.

Northampton Union examples:
Potter Frederick aged 13 years. To the service of Mr Simco, Mears Ashby. Discharged 4 August 1888
Mallard 1879 – Alice 8, Edith 6, Emma 4, From the school to meet their father who is to be discharged from prison this morning.

Medical Officer

He attended to the poor who needed medical assistance and also provided medicines. He examined the inmates on admission and reported to the Guardians. 

Board of Guardians

This was an elected body which included representatives from all the parishes. They oversaw all administration, discussed relief, received reports and made decisions on putting out older children as apprentices. The guardian's minute books are a treasure trove of information.

Out-Relief

Not everyone in need was admitted; those suffering from temporary illness or hardship were allowed out-relief - sometimes cash but more usually in food, bread or other goods. The registers give information about claimants, why they needed relief and for how long payments were made.

Births in the workhouse

These were registered and also recorded in the workhouse’s own register of births. From 1904 the birth registration did not state workhouse as place of abode; it would give an address such as 1 Glapthorn Road for Oundle, or The White House for Potterpury. This was to reduce the stigma attached to having been born in a workouse.

Deaths in the workhouse

These were registered with the local registrar and should also be found in the admission and discharge books. Relatives could collect the body and arrange burial in the deceased's home parish; if not, burial was arranged by the guardians. Many of the birth and death registers have been transcribed. You may find notes like the following:

Contributions towards upkeep

In order to keep the poor rate low, family members would be asked to contribute towards the upkeep of parents in the workhouse Details can be found in guardians' minute books and in the local newspapers

Apprenticeships

Children were educated so they could support themselves. The workhouse was also seen as a source of labour from those needing servants or apprentices, and not just from local families, but from further afield.

Creed Registers:

From 1869, an inmate’s religion was recorded on admission and these are useful where other admission records do not survive

The following lists the main records for each workhouse. Please note that there may not be full coverage between the start and finish dates for each group of documents. Please also note that access to documents under 100 years old is restricted.

Brackley Poor Law Union Ref. PL1
Guardians’ minutes    1835-1930
Workhouse master's records    1836-1935
Including register of apprentices    1882 - 1927
Register of admission and discharge registers    1914 - 1927
Register of births and deaths    1910-1931
Religious creed register    1890-1934
Outdoor relief records    1837-1930

Brixworth Poor Law Union   Ref. PL2
Guardians’ minutes    1835-1930
Workhouse master's records    1899-1934
Including admission and discharge orders    1840; 1910-1935
Register of births    1837-1920
Register of deaths    1914-1934
Religious creed registers    1861-1920
Outdoor relief papers    1837-1934
Vaccination records    1853-1856, 1882-1895

Daventry Poor Law Union    Ref. PL3
Guardians’ minutes    1836-1930
Workhouse master's records    1879-1936
Vaccination papers    1899-1930
Religious creed registers    1902-1934
Outdoor relief papers    1899-1928
School attendance records     1877-1903

Hardingstone Poor Law Union PL4
Guardian’s minutes    1835-1914
Register of admission and discharge    1903-1922
Medical Officer of Health papers    1836-1924
Register of births    1837-1922
Registers of deaths    1836-1925
Religious creed register    1900-1915
Outdoor relief papers    1836-1930
Vaccination papers    1853-1923
School attendance records    1877-1903
 

Kettering Poor Law Union Ref. PL5

Guardians’ minutes    1836-1930
Workhouse master's records    1874-1930
Including admission and discharge registers    1907-1931
Including registers of births    1893-1912
Registers of deaths    1893-1914
Outdoor relief papers    1848-1930
School attendance papers 1877-1884    

Northampton Poor Law Union Ref. PL6
Guardians’ minutes    1835-1929
Admission and discharge registers    1837-1933
Registers of births    1837-1915
Registers of deaths    1837-1915
Outdoor relief papers    1900-1903
 

Oundle Poor Law Union Ref. PL7
Guardians' minutes    1835-1930
Workhouse master's records    1842-1930
Registers of admission and discharge    1836-1938
Medical Officer of Health papers    1876-1930
Registers of births    1877-1913
Registers of deaths    1848-1914
Religious creed registers    1869-1914
Outdoor relief papers    1841-1930
Vaccination records    1874-1928
School assistance papers    1877-1896

Peterborough Poor Law Union Ref. PL8
Guardians’ minutes    1835-1930
Workhouse master's papers    1836-1938
Registers of admission and discharge    1836-1930
Medical Officer of Health papers    1836-1945
Registers of births    1836-1945
Registers of deaths    1836-1931
Religious creed registers    1915-1945
School attendance papers    1877-1903
Vaccination papers    1882-1918
 

• Potterspury Poor Law Union Ref. PL9
• Weekly returns  1926-1930
• Buckinghamshire Record Office holds
• Guardians' minutes  1840-1930 
• School attendance records   1887-1896
•  
• Thrapston Poor Law Union    Ref. PL10
• Guardians’ minutes   1835-1930
• Workhouse master's record   1880-1934
• Registers of admission and discharge   1901-1933
• Medical Officer of Health papers   1839-1933
• Registers of births   1839-1933
• Registers of deaths   1837-1933
• Religious creed registers   1914-1933
• School attendance records   1877-1903
• Vaccination papers   1888-1930
•  
• Towcester Poor Law Union    Ref. PL11
• Guardians’ minutes   1835-1930
• Workhouse master's records   1883-1930
• Registers of admission and discharge   1901-1929
• Medical Officer of Health papers   1837-1932
• Registers of deaths   1837-1930
• Religious creed registers   1914-1930
• Outdoor relief papers   1893-1930
• School attendance papers   1877-1903
•  
• Wellingborough Poor Law Union    Ref. PL12
• Guardians' minutes   1835-1931
• Workhouse master's records   1898-1931
• Including admission and discharge registers   1896-1933
• Medical Officer of Health papers   1867-1931
• Registers of births   1867-1914
• Registers of deaths   1867-1914
• Religious creed registers   1869-1920
• Outdoor relief papers   1906-1929
• Childrens' records   1902-1930
• Vaccination records   1879-1928