Search Donegal Workhouse Registers and Minute Books Browse

The details given will vary depending on the document type, most will include:

• Name
• Sex
• Occupation
• Marital status
• Age
• Birth year
• Event date – these could be minute books, admission books, or discharge books
• Admission year
• Discharge year
• Death date
• Previous residence
• Union
• County

The Donegal Workhouse Registers and Minute Books span from 1840 to 1922 and comprise records from 8 poor law unions across Donegal. The unions are Ballyshannon, Donegal, Dunfanaghy, Glentis, Inishowen, Letterkenny, Milford, and Stranorlar. The original records are held by the Donegal County Council and have been digitised through a partnership with Findmypast. Within the collection, you will find a wide variety of records. The collection mainly consists admission and discharge registers plus board of guardians minute books, but you will also find Accounts, death registers, letter, relief registers, supplier contracts, and more. A full list of the types of documents can be found below.

Until the late 1830s, all support for the poor and incapacitated in Ireland had been funded by charity. Unlike the UK, where the care and management of paupers had been covered by law since 1601, Ireland was not covered by a national Poor Law until 1838. Ireland was divided into Poor Law Unions which were presided over by Boards of Guardians. The Guardians oversaw the setting up and running of workhouses, the gathering of local taxes to pay for the poor laws and the appointment of staff and contractors. The Donegal poor law unions were formed between 1840-1841.

High levels of poverty in 19th century Ireland meant that hundreds of thousands of Irish people passed through the workhouses. Irish workhouses were generally built to accommodate around 800 inmates although it soon became clear that more space was needed. A programme of building took place throughout the 1840s and 50s. Life inside was grim. At first, there was no so-called outdoor relief, as would have been common in England. Outdoor relief was when the poor could simply use the workhouse facilities as needed by undertaking a day’s work. Indoor relief was initially the only option and required the poor to prove they were destitute before they were admitted.

Once inside the inmates were separated into distinct groups, men and women, adults and children, able-bodied and infirm. They were expected to wear a uniform inside and were kept separated from other groups. They were expected to work for a roof over their heads and the work was hard and monotonous. Common tasks included treadmills or breaking apart old ropes into fibre. Women might be employed in sewing tasks but certainly in Dublin, also used the treadmills. Food was also monotonous and basic. Stirabout, a watery gruel was common, as was bread. Once a year the routine was relaxed and inmates had meat to celebrate Christmas.

While many lived and died in the workhouse it was not unusual for people to leave. The workhouse authorities would provide a suit of clothes if an inmate could prove they had a chance of work.

Admissions & Discharges

Day Book & Outdoor Relief Register

Deaths & Indoor Relief Register

Dispensary Notices

Estimates & Demands

Guardian Treasurer's Book

History Of Water Supply

Indoor Relief Register

Indoor Relief Register & Accounts

Indoor Relief Register, Admissions & Discharges

Letters

Marriages

Minutes

Notes

Notices

Notifcations

Outdoor Relief Register, Admissions & Discharges, Deaths, Marriages & Punishment Book

Outdoor Relief Register, Admissions & Discharges, Deaths, Punishment Book & Register Of Mortgages

Petitions

Relief Register

Rough Minute Book

Special Diet Book

Suppliers' Contracts

Supplies Register

Tenders For Workhouse Supplies

Treasurers' Book

Treasurer's Book, Record Of Sickness & Mortality & Indoor Relief Register

Treasurer's Pass Book

Union Receipts