lancashiretodundee

  My ancestors and Hathersage My ancestor Sarah's father Thomas, who was a collier residing in Prescot, died in 1793 and was buried on 13 February. Her mother Elizabeth died in 1794 or 1795 and was buried at St Mary the Virgin, Prescot on 3 January aged (probably) 46. Three days later, on 6 January, the surviving children, Mary Waine of the age of 22 years or thereabouts Sarah Waine of the age of 19 Years or thereabouts Martha Waine of the Age of 12 years or thereabouts and John Waine aged 6 Years or thereabouts had their settlement examination. Their siblings John, Catherine and Catherine had died in infancy before this date. A brother Thomas, the eldest, appears to have married and got a job before this date. Before poor law reform, parish relief was the concern of your parish of settlement. It was not easy to change your parish if you moved away. Settlement passed down the paternal line. On marriage a woman took the parish of her husband.   Why is the settlement exam...