One means of reducing costs was by removing (i.e. deporting) paupers who did not have 'settlement' in the town where they were claiming poor relief. Each case was meant to be investigated before deportation or removal took place. Sometimes this was carried out without paying attention to the rights of those removed. Irish people might be so mobile that proving continuous residence in a particular area could be very difficult.

Lancashire Record Office holds a series of registers for 1801-1835, listing the names of Irish paupers deported through Liverpool who had been dealt with by Lancashire magistrates. They are powerful evidence of a substantial pre-famine Irish presence in England and name individual paupers and the number of children/dependants travelling with them. For example, the register for 1834-5 records the deportation of 770 people, 364 of whom are named. One sample register has been included in its entirety on the Moving Here site.

These papers include Bridget's statement of her circumstances, known as the 'examination', removal order and transport expenses claims. Statements such as these are commonly found with Quarter Sessions papers held by local county record offices. You can find these documents listed on the A2A website. Click on 'Search the database' and type in 'Bridget Collean' or try searching for your own ancestors.

In 1847, the number of Irish paupers who were removed from Liverpool to Ireland peaked at 15,000. In the year ending March 1853, there were 4823 removal orders issued against Irish people in England and Wales of which 3,549 were made out in Liverpool. The number of years of continuous residence required to qualify for settlement was reduced from five years to three in 1861 and to one in 1865. The system later fell into disuse in England and by the 1881-82, only 248 paupers were removed from England to Ireland.

1 | 2 |Next >