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Local History<br />
The Union Workhouse at Milton, Kent.<br />
George Barkaway’s story raises far more questions than it<br />
answers. Perhaps George was less gifted than his siblings, or<br />
he may not have been emotionally robust. He was often adrift<br />
in a difficult situation, in the end unable to cope without a lot of<br />
support from the authorities. The new poor law wasn’t all bad,<br />
in spite of its reputation. Elizabeth and her children and<br />
stepchildren were supported by the system and in the end a<br />
fudged arrangement in the Kent workhouse enabled them to<br />
end their days together, separate rooms and tough regulations<br />
notwithstanding, the Guardians probably did the best they<br />
could.<br />
[George’s story has been traced through the online census<br />
data, the Depwade Union Records and Brockdish parish<br />
overseers’ records in the Norfolk Record Office, and<br />
newspaper reports from Norfolk, Suffolk and Kent. Elaine will<br />
be talking about how to use poor law records for family history<br />
research at the Waveney Heritage Centre (the old school) on<br />
Sunday afternoon 28 <strong>October</strong> at 2.30pm.<br />
Elaine’s new book, Monks Hall, the History of a Waveney<br />
Valley Manor will be available from 20th <strong>October</strong> at local<br />
bookshops and online at www.poppyland.co.uk.<br />
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