Each record will give you both a transcript and an image of the original record from the archive. The detail found in each record will vary depending on the type of document. Most transcripts will provide you with a combination of the following details:
Name
Age
Birth year
Residence
Year
Admission date
Institution
Register type
Document type
Volume
Date range
Images
The images will be able to give you even more detail about your ancestor. Below we have listed each document type and the facts you can ascertain from each.
Admission and discharge books for both casual paupers and vagrants, 1843-1923
Date of admission and the day of the week
Name of the vagrant and family members admitted at the same time
Where did the individual sleep the night before admission
Occupation
If any money found on the person and if so, the amount found
Work completed by the individual in the workhouse
Where did the individual go when discharged and additional remarks
District medical relief lists 1860-1910
Age and residence
Nature of disease
Days when attended and what medicine was given
Necessaries ordered to be given to the patient
Present state of the patient or confirmation that the case has been terminated
Register of pauper cases refused, 1877-1890
Date of register entry including day of the week and hour
Circumstances under which the individual was refused
Register of paupers and orders of removal, 1858-1859
Not all the fields are complete for each entry.
Date and age
Name of the chargeable parish
Residence
Date of removal order
Whether the order was common or suspended
The name of the parish the individual was removed to
Total cost of maintenance
Amount recovered for maintenance
Date when removed and by whom
Register of relief on loan, 1877-1890
Date and residence
The amount to be collected and the name of who will pay the sum
Religious Creed Register, 1868-1911
Date of admission and from whence admitted
Religious creed
Name of informant (either self, parent, or relative)
Either discharged or died – this will include a date for those who have died in the workhouse
School admission and discharge book, 1843-1889
Name, age, and date of admission
The chargeable parish
Whether in a workhouse school before and length of time
Whether in any other school before and length of time
Date of discharge
The conduct of the child in school
The occasion of discharge and if the child entered service and the nature of the service
Superannuation register, 1866-1929
Not all fields are complete for each entry
Name and office
Date of entering appointment
Office promotions or transfers and dates
Salary of officer
Increases in salary
Contributions paid by officer into superannuation
The Wales, Monmouthshire workhouse registers, 1837-1929 records are retained by the Gwent Archives. The records focus on the Abergavenny Union. The Abergavenny Union was formed in 1837. The workhouse was located in Hatherleigh Place, Abergavenny. By 1891 the workhouse held 189 inmates. Workhouses were managed by the local poor law union. In order to deter paupers from entering the workhouse, the buildings were designed to look intimidating and prison-like.
This collection comprises a range of documents from the workhouse that can enlighten you to the life of your ancestor. Each document type allows you to discover unique information. In the register of pauper cases refused, you will find out why a person was refused. Grounds for refusal included such reasons as the person refusing to work, arriving too late to be admitted and the gates being locked, or the person being violent or drunk. The superannuation register allows you to track your ancestor’s career in the workhouse. For example, the records show that Margaret Lewis was appointed on 14 January 1898 as a rate collector and then promoted to the registrar of births and deaths. In 1903, Margaret voluntarily resigned. Some of the records also recorded the type of work your ancestor participated in while in the workhouse such as breaking stones, scrubbing floors, or pulling oakum. The register of relief on loan provides details about individual’s payments and whether they were able to pay. Some records showed that the person was too poor to pay, had left the district, or died.