My 2G Grandmother, Elizabeth WRAY born 1831 in Coolcrannel Maguiresbridge where her father , William WRAY was the school teacher. Sometime after the death of her mother, Mary nee MORTON in 1842 Elizabeth, her sister, Mary Ann and possibly her brother , Alexander were admitted to the Lisnakea Workhouse where they stayed until 1849. Mary Ann and Elizabeth were both shipped to Melbourne, Australia to work as servants and provide wives for the many single men in the colony under the Earl Grey Scheme. Both girls married . Elizabeth married William Thomas KEENE, who worked as a baker whilst looking for gold in Ballarat. Mary Ann married James KIRK, a farmer. Their older brother , William was sent to join MORTON relatives in Canada. Alexander later joined him. Both married and had issue. What happened to their father Thomas no one seems to know. Hopefully someone can come up with the answer.
The Lisnakea Poor Law Union was officially declared in 1840. The Workhouse was opened in 1843 at a cost of £6,464. It was built to house a maximum capacity of 500 inmates. The Lisnakea Workhouse was built to accomodate people from the areas of Aghavoory, Belleisle, Brooksborough, Callowhill, Colebrook, Derrycrum, Derrycullion, Donagh, Drumrelly, Killynick, Lisnakea, Maguires Bridge, Manor Water House, and Tomregan.
During the worst years of the Great Famine, alterations were made to accomodate a further 130 inmates.
During the Troubles the Lisnakea Workhouse housed a British military regiment. The Workhouse was closed in 1948 and the site has since been redeveloped for housing.
References
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For more information see here | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE |
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Public Records of Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland. Great Britain. | VIEW SOURCE |
Type of Building:
Comments
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Sheila92
Thursday 9th April 2020 11:36PM -
My 2xgt grandmother Elizabeth (Bessie) Simpson gave birth to her son Thomas (my gt grandfather) in Lisnaskea workhouse in 1864. No father was listed, but when he married he put his father down as John Simpson. We have never found a marriage for John and Bessie though. Later, Thomas was in the workhouse hospital with knee problems and Bessie died there in 1888. Does anyone know if women went into the workhouse just to give birth, and weren't actually residents?
Chris Simpson
Saturday 11th April 2020 01:57PM -
Hello,
Have you created a Chronicles for your Ancestors? We can now connect your ancestors to the Workhouse. If you need any help creating and uploading a chronicle, then click on this link for a YouTube video detailing how to do this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESPeNSWIjKE&feature=youtu.be
Also, Chris in answer to your question, yes many of the Workhouse infirmaries served as 'lying-in' hospitals where women would go to give birth. So, although many people were born in the Union Workhouses, it doesn not necessarily mean that their mothers were inmates.
Valerie - IrelandXO Team
Chronicles Editor
Tuesday 14th April 2020 08:28AM
