This
is an extract of an application on behalf of an eighteen year old woman for help
from Glasgow City Parish. It was written in 1851.
Read the Transcript
of the document (below) and answer the following questions.
Question
1. What evidence can you find to show that the house was very poor?
2. What evidence can you find to show that the people were very poor?
3. Why had the people sold their clothes?
4. Why had Mary
Gilmour given up her job?
5. Do you think that Mary Gilmour should
be given help?
6. Was Mary Gilmour given help?
Poor
relief application to Glasgow Parochial Board Glasgow City Libraries and Archives
- D-HEW10/4/23/380
SOURCE
3B TRANSCRIPT
"Mary Gilmour Aged 18 born in Glasgow presently
residing in 41 New Vennel first low door on right- with Isabella Leonard Milligan.
Applies with a swelling in the groin - see Dr Harry.
This is the
worst of all the bad habitations I ever saw. A cellar, earth floor, joist roof,
unfit for pigs - nor aught else. Landlady stuffing skins of dolls with saw dust
- a blind son of about 8 years of age as naked as he was born helping his mother.
Clothes sold for their breakfast.
Applicant huddled amongst straw in
a recess between the Jam and Wall scarcely long enough for a child to lie in.
Her clothes also sold for food - she is naked. Admits that for a long time
she had been associating with a young man who was to marry her, but he has deserted
her.
She worked in Port Eglinton Wool Mill till within the last four
weeks and was compelled to give up her situation on cause of ill health. Has sold
all to pay for medical advice and to support herself before making application
to Parish.
