Re: Poor Law - Settlement & Removal
I had an ancestor, born in St Keverne, Cornwall. After initially being apprenticed to a local landowner, he went to sea. He married in Falmouth and subsequently had a son. Shortly afterwards he died. When his widow was examined, it was determined that her place of settlement was St Keverne, the last place of settlement of her husband, even though there is no evidence she had ever lived there. I understand that the place of settlement of a wife/ widow was determined by that of her husband. The place of settlement is only relevant if a request for parish assistance is made as it establishes which parish is responsible for providing support. At the next census my widow appeared to be self supporting in Falmouth and the son was in the care of his grandmother.
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