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Have you ever wondered what life was like for your Guernsey ancestor during times of hardship, or how they navigated the complex systems that shaped their daily survival? The Poor Law Board minute books, spanning from 1853 to 1915, offer a poignant glimpse into the lives of those who struggled to make ends meet. These volumes are more than just dry records of administrative decisions. They are a window into the ways the state cared for (or neglected) the poor during a period of rapid social change.
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We have digitised 6 volumes of the the original Poor Law Board minute books. They offer insight into the bureaucratic details and decision-making of the Poor Law Board. Within the pages you will read about who attended the meetings, resolutions passed by the board, the names of new poor relief recipients who were examined, appointments to the board and so much more.
Poor Relief in Guernsey
In Guernsey, poor relief developed from a parish-led system into a more centralised approach. Workhouses were established in the 18th century to care for those in need, while by the 1750s, local doctors provided aid to the "outdoor poor"—those who required assistance but lived independently. If your ancestor was admitted to a workhouse, check Guernsey Hospital Admission and Discharge records. In the 19th century, each parish created a Poor Law Board to oversee relief, distributing outdoor relief as cash payments. Elected officials, known as Procureurs of the Poor—akin to England’s Boards of Guardians—managed this support. By 1937, responsibility for poor relief shifted to the Public Assistance Authority, marking the move toward a modern welfare system.
Volumeskeyboard_arrow_down
DC/HX/54/6, Poor Law Board Committee Minutes, 1873-1888
DC/HX/54/7, Poor Law Board Committee Minutes, 1888-1899
DC/HX/56/4, Poor Law Board Committee Minutes, 1899-1908
DC/HX/46/1, Poor Law Board Committee Minutes, 1907-1915
DC/HX/54/5, Poor Law Board Committee Minutes, 1853-1873
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