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Archiver > ESSEX-UK > 2003-05 > 1052831179


From: "George Jamieson" <>
Subject: Re: Essex Adoptions 1870's
Date: Tue, 13 May 2003 23:07:42 +1000
References: <73963456.5A7F69BF.00746388@aol.com>


Eric
Thanks for the further explanation about Poor Law Unions. You mention an
answer from Ruth?? I haven't seen anything from Ruth - maybe I missed
receiving a message although I couldn't see anything in the list archives.
Anyway, thanks again for your help.
Chris
----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: ""George Jamieson"" <>
Sent: Tuesday, 13 May 2003 8:52
Subject: Re: Essex Adoptions 1870's


> In an email dated Mon, 12 May 2003 11:33:48 pm GMT, "George Jamieson"
<> writes:
> Hi Chris
>
> >Thanks so much for your very informative response to my plea for help!
I've
> >only been researching my family for a few months so still consider myself
a
> >newbie at this.
> >
>
> We all have to start sometime! Nobody has to apologise for inexperience.
>
> >WRT to your last para about "Poor Law documents relating to the local
> >Union". Could you please expand on what this?
>
> I think Ruth has really answered this.
>
> The local parishes were responsible for dealing with their own poor and
several parishes together would form a Union to provide services unde rthe
Poor Laws. (It's a bit more complicated than this, but that's the general
idea). The Unions would run workhouses to provide accommodation and work for
what one of my friends calls 'the witless and the shiftless'.
>
> These also served as orphanages in many cases and children would often be
trained for the work they were likely to be suitable for. Boys would usually
be apprenticed for trade or taken on by farmers as labourers, while girls
went into service or to dressmaking/millinery/lacemaking, etc.
>
> I am not sure what the Union is for the area you are looking for, although
Witham was a large population centre.
>
> Eric
>

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