Hidden Lives Revealed. A virtual archive - children in care 1881-1981 * Image of handwritten text

Case 8625

Case number: 8625
Application year: 1901
Name:

E

Gender:

Female

Year of birth: 1891
Home: St Margaret's Home For Girls, Penkridge; Clapham Home Of Rest For Girls Out Of Situation, Balham

Description:

E's father died of smallpox in 1894 and her mother later married again but deserted. It is not clear whether she left her husband or he left her. At the time of the application to the Waifs and Strays' Society E. was living with her mother in Cannock Workhouse. The Guardians had no facilities for domestic training in the Workhouse and felt that in order for E. to learn how to support herself she should go to one of the Society's Homes. They specified St Margaret's Home, Penkridge if possible as it was fairly local. E's mother was described as a "helpless creature" unable to do much for her children. E. was admitted to St Margaret's Home, Penkridge on 19 December 1901. The majority of the material in the file concerns the girl's employment. She was placed in service several times but either lost her places because she was unsatisfactory or left of her own accord. The Penkridge Home felt that they could not have her returning to them so frequently as it was having an unsettling effect on the other girls, so on 14 June 1909 she was admitted to the Clapham Home for Girls out of Situation. She continued as before once she was in London, she went out to service with several different employers but never stayed long. In October 1912 she returned to the Clapham Home "sadly out of health". In December 1912 after a spell in a convalescent home she returned to her previous employer but she left the position on 14 April 1913 because she was "unsatisfactory" and on 15 April 1913 she returned to her mother in Staffordshire.


Keywords: Abandonment; Employment; Health; Workhouses

Items: 1. Application to Waifs and Strays' Society 1 December 1901
2. Letter from Cannock Union enquiring about a place in the Penkridge Home for E. 23 November 1901
3. Letter from Cannock Union enclosing the application form 3 December 1901
4. Copy letter from Revd Edward Rudolf accepting E. for the Penkridge Home 10 December 1901
5. Copy letter from Revd Edward Rudolf to the Penkridge Home requesting he be informed of the date of E's arrival 12 December 1901
6. Note from Mrs Hill of the Penkridge Home acknowledging the above letter [December 1901]
7. Notice of admission to Penkndge Home 19 December 1901
8. Copy letter to the Cannock Union informing them that E. had been placed in service in Stafford 23 August 1907
9. Notice that E. had gone to another situation as a between maid 22 January 1908
10. Extract of a letter reporting that E. was returning to the Home having lost her situation 14 April 1908
11. Copy letter to the Cannock Union informing them that E. had lost her position 4 June 1908
12. Note of E. starting in a new situation 5 August 1908
13. Copy letter to the Cannock Union informing them that E. was working at Penkridge Vicarage 6 August 1908
14. Letter from the Penkridge Home concerning E's decision to leave her position 29 May 1909
15. Copy letter from Revd Edward Rudolf re above letter 1 June 1909
16. Copy letter from Revd Edward Rudolf to E's employer 1 June 1909
17. Copy letter from Revd Edward Rudolf to the Cannock Union 1 June 1909
18. Letter from E's employer saying that E. was not leaving in disgrace but had "foolishly" given notice because she was scolded by the Cook [June 1909]
19. Copy letter from Revd Edward Rudolf to E's employer concerning travel arrangements to London 8 June 1909
20. Copy letter from Revd Edward Rudolf to the Cannock Union 8 June 1909
21. Letter from E's employer about her travel to London 11 June 1909
22. Copy letter from Revd Edward Rudolf replying to E's employer 12 June 1909
23. Letter from the Cannock Union 12 June 1909
24. Letter from E's former employer asking if she had arrived safely in London 18 June 1909
25. Copy letter reporting E's safe arrival 19 June 1909
26. Notice of change of situation 11 January 1911
27. Copy letter from Revd Edward Rudolf 26 April 1911
28. Notice of change of situation 27 April 1911
29. Notice of change of situation 23 October 1911
30. Letter from the Clapham Home about E's health 29 October 1912
31. Notice of change of situation 9 December 1912
32. Notice of change of situation 25 April 1915




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