Inmate of Toxteth Park Workhouse

[Ladym]

I wonder if anyone can help or offer advice here. As part of my family tree search I have located a family member aged 11 who was in Toxteth workhouse. His dad was living with his new wife and children so the boy had a 'home' but for some reason was in the workhouse. A very elderly relative has said she remembers being told he'd stolen fruit from a barrow in Liverpool and been put away for it. Would a boy be possibly put in a workhouse for breaking the law? He is listed as being an 'inmate' in 1901 but Id really like to know how long he had been in there at that time and when he got out. Any ideas?

[MaryA]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

We might find it quite strange today, but perhaps if this was the only child from the first marriage, the second wife didn't want him at home.

If there is any truth about the story passed down through the family then perhaps there may be mention of it in the newspapers, perhaps let us known his name and we may be able to check any of our own resources, but the possibility is that he was sent there for schooling.

There are Creed Registers for Toxteth Workhouse held at the Record Office that might prove very interesting to you, some of them are actually in the Archives and need booking a day or two ahead of time, but make very interesting reading.

A little bit of background here http://www.workhouses.org.uk/ToxtethPark/