Sarah Green

Born 1810, died 1853
Pauper Nurse at Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse, 1846
Researched by Nicola Sheard

Sarah Green, aged 22, of Litcham, Norfolk and her illegitimate child were admitted to the Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse, Gressenhall, on 16th July 1836. A possible baptism record for Sarah Green from the parish of Litcham, Norfolk, recorded that she was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Green, born on 5th May 1810 and baptised on 7th May 1810. There is, however, a discrepancy of 4 years between this record and the age Sarah Green gave when she was admitted to Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse.

On 29th June 1840, Sarah and another inmate, Elizabeth Scott, were confined in the dungeon for 12 hours on two consecutive days, as a punishment for misbehaviour. Further to this, on 6th July 1840 the Guardian Minute Book recorded that the two women were to be taken before the Magistrate to be punished for using obscene and profane language.

The 1841, the census taken at Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse listed Sarah Green, aged 25, as a pauper inmate. Also listed were her illegitimate children, a daughter Mary, aged 5 and a son William, aged 1.

The Guardian’s Minutes first mention that Sarah was working as a Nurse on the Old Men’s Ward on 16th November 1846. It stated that she would continue in that post for another week. There is no record of when she started work in this position. On 30th November 1846, it was recorded that Sarah had been replaced by Robert Platfoot (the only male nurse found in records so far). She was paid 19 shillings in wages.

The 1851 census shows that Sarah was still living at the Workhouse. She was listed as unmarried, aged 38, born in Litcham, Norfolk. Her occupation was listed as laundress. Her children, Mary, aged 15 and William aged 6, were listed as scholars, they would have attended the school in the workhouse.

On 8th March 1852, Sarah’s daughter, Mary left the workhouse to go into service for Mrs Edwards of Necton, Norfolk. The 1861 census showed that Mary, age 25, now worked as a servant in the household of James Mariner, a farmer at Daffy Green, Scarning, Norfolk.

Sarah’s son William had left the Workhouse by 1861 and the census of that year recorded that he worked as a general servant for James Blazey the publican of the Angel Public House in Hoe, Norfolk.

There are no further known records that mention Sarah Green at Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse after the 1851 census. There is a record of the burial of a Sarah Green, age 40, at Litcham Parish Church on 27th June 1853. Given the evidence available, it is possible that this is the Sarah Green who was an inmate and Nurse at Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse.