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Pauper 1851 census in Hertfordshire

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Tawny

Tawny Report 7 Jun 2026 10:05

On the 1851 census my 5x great grandmother Mary Higgs is in her 60s and given as the head of the household. Mary is living with two of her daughters (one widowed & one unmarried) and 5 grandchildren between the ages of 13 & 4. Both daughters and the four eldest grandchildren are given as straw plaiters but Mary is given as Pauper. They are not in the workhouse so I assume this means that Mary is receiving some form of parish relief. Does anyone know if that would correct?

Researching:
No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled. Nor will we proceed with force against him except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land. To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice.

nameslessone

nameslessone Report 7 Jun 2026 11:57

An interesting question.
The household has some level of income, probably not much, and Mary may just be too old to work.
Have you researched parish relief for the area?

It looks like she may have been eligible as a widow.

Andysmum

Andysmum Report 7 Jun 2026 12:05

According to the link below, a pauper was a destitute person receiving support under the Poor Law.

https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/glossary/Dictionary-of-Old-Occupations-Index.html

Tawny

Tawny Report 7 Jun 2026 12:38

Thank you both. According to something I’ve just found a pauper was anyone receiving state funded poor relief and this could be either indoors ie the workhouse or outdoors within the community.

Researching:
No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled. Nor will we proceed with force against him except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land. To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice.