In 1864, my second great grand uncle was listed as the "putative father" of infant, Bessie Haughton. She was born in the Bawnboy Workhouse 15 Apr 1864 and baptized the same day. Her father was listed as George Haughton of Newtowngore, Co Leitrim and her mother, Susan McKenna who was listed only as a servant. George was married at the time and died within the next 8 years at which time his wife remarried. I've searched diligently without finding any records for either a Bessie Haughton (her baptismal name) or a Bessie (Elizabeth, etc) McKenna. There are scores of Susan McKenna's but none that I can verify. In irishgenealogy.ie the informant for the birth was a Workhouse nurse. Was it common for an unmarried mum inmate to leave the Workhouse and if so with their babies? The plight of Susan McKenna and little Bessie saddens me. I have a few more elderly relatives who died at the Workhouse in the early 1900's, presumed there for medical care.
