They would have had to work within the workhouse, my great grandmother was in the workhouse with 2 little ones, not my grandfather thankfully, and she was checked in by relatives. She checked herself out a couple of times, I am guessing to find work, but then came back, the children were left there. She left at some stage with the children and had 2 more children about 10 years later(no husband), and did not go back. If the records for the workhouse are still in existence, they would be a good read, albeit a sad one I expect, not sure where they will be try Devon Heritage centre they might know.