From Poorhouse to Probate: What Wills and Workhouse Records Can Reveal

When tracing your family history, it's easy to fall into the trap of only looking for the big events: births, marriages and deaths. But the truth is, the richness of a family story often lies in the details between those dates — the clues that tell us how people lived, struggled, succeeded, or fell on hard times. Two types of records, seemingly worlds apart, can offer a fascinating insight into this: wills and workhouse records.

At first glance, they appear to sit at opposite ends of the social scale. Wills are often associated with wealth, property and legacy — documents left behind by those who had something to give. Workhouse records, on the other hand, reflect poverty and hardship — the last resort of the destitute. But both are treasure troves of detail for the family historian, and both can play a powerful role in telling the true story of your ancestors' lives.

The Will: More Than Just Who Got What

A will is not just a list of possessions — it’s a deeply personal record of relationships, values, and intentions. If your ancestor left a will, you’re in luck. These documents often name family members, friends, employees, and even neighbours. They can confirm relationships, settle questions about blended families, and even introduce you to previously unknown children or siblings.

Take, for example, a will written by a Victorian widow who left her “best bed linen” to a granddaughter — and a much colder “one shilling” to a son who had clearly fallen out of favour. These subtle clues provide texture and emotion, helping you understand not just who your ancestors were, but how they felt about the people around them.

Wills can also reveal property ownership, trades and businesses, debts owed or collected, and personal items of significance. Sometimes, they even contain instructions for burial — a particular churchyard, a specific style of funeral, or requests for mourners to wear black. All of this adds colour and context to the story you’re building.

Even if your ancestor didn’t leave a will, they may still have been involved in probate. Letters of administration were often granted when someone died intestate (without a will), especially if there was property or money involved. These documents, too, can include valuable details about next of kin and financial status.

The Workhouse: A Story of Survival, Not Shame

At the other end of the spectrum, we find workhouse records. Often viewed with sadness or discomfort, these records are nonetheless vital. They can break through brick walls in your research, especially if someone disappears from the census or appears in unexpected places.

Contrary to popular belief, not everyone in the workhouse was abandoned or permanently impoverished. Some entered for a short period during illness, unemployment, or old age when no family support was available. Others may have been born there — women often gave birth in the workhouse infirmary, even if they didn’t live there permanently.

Workhouse admission and discharge registers can provide an astonishing level of detail: names, ages, occupations, reasons for entry, next of kin, and sometimes even the state of someone’s clothing or health. They might note if a person was “destitute after desertion by husband” or “incapable of work due to infirmity”. These records give a raw but honest snapshot of life as it was.

And within the broader workhouse system were schools, hospitals, and asylums — all with their own sets of records. If your ancestor died in a workhouse, you may find burial records, medical notes, or even coroner’s inquests attached.

What Both Have in Common: Humanity

Whether someone died leaving a will, or passed their final days in the workhouse, both types of records speak to the same thing — human lives in all their complexity.

They can change the narrative. A will might show that a modestly listed "agricultural labourer" actually owned several plots of land, challenging assumptions about status. A workhouse record might reveal an unmarried mother doing everything she could to support her children in a harsh economic climate.

In both cases, these documents serve as a counterbalance to the gaps and silences left in other records. Census returns and civil registrations give us the skeleton. Wills and workhouse records provide the flesh and feeling.

Tips for Finding These Records

• Wills and Probate
  In England and Wales, wills from 1858 onwards are held by the Probate Registry. You can search online via the UK Government probate site. For earlier wills, you'll need to look at local ecclesiastical courts — these are often held at county archives or at the Borthwick Institute in York for the north of England.

• Workhouse Records
  These are usually held in local record offices, as they were created by Boards of Guardians that governed Poor Law Unions. Some are digitised on sites like Ancestry and Findmypast, but many require archive visits. Don’t forget to explore related hospital or infirmary records.

• Use Maps and Directories
  Overlaying where your ancestors lived with the location of the nearest workhouse can help you understand their movements. Trade directories might show if someone had a shop one decade and was in the workhouse the next — a stark but real reflection of changing fortunes.

Bringing It All Together

Imagine this: one branch of your tree includes a man who left a detailed will naming his children, grandchildren, and even a loyal housekeeper — gifting her £10 “for her long and faithful service”. Another branch shows a woman admitted to the workhouse three times in her 70s, each time listed as a “widow, no means of support”, but with children named in the notes who perhaps could not help.

These are not just records. They are stories. And they deserve to be told with the same care and respect, no matter the ancestor’s status.

At Ancestry Uncovered, I believe that every life matters, and every detail counts. Whether your great-grandfather owned a draper’s shop and left a will in 1892, or your great-aunt gave birth in a workhouse infirmary in 1911, their lives are worth exploring — and celebrating.

Final Thoughts

Genealogy isn’t just about discovering where we come from. It’s about empathy — stepping into the shoes of those who came before us, and understanding the world they lived in. Wills and workhouse records, though seemingly at opposite ends of life’s fortunes, both offer us powerful ways to do just that.

If you’d like help uncovering the full story of your ancestors — from poorhouse to probate and everything in between — I’d be delighted to assist. Start with a free one-hour consultation and let’s see where your story leads.