Failcestors

[rebness]

Working with tenuously-linked relatives (i.e. 20th cousin twice-removed), I have managed to make some headway with my mother's maternal grandmother and her side of the family line. Whereas the Gordons enjoyed silly adventures and fell from a position of monied idleness in Scotland (I wonder if Alexander ever regretted running away with the maidservant), the Gauls were just one long line of Fail.

Robert Gaul was born around 1800, possibly in Lincoln, before deciding to set off on his merry way and go and see Liverpool. There, he fell in with Esther Connor, an Irish immigrant and they had an amazing life together.

If by Amazing Life, we mean thrown into the Walton workhouse, along with their children. Esther died there at 47 years of age; Robert once again disappears from history.

All their children made their way out of the workhouse eventually, although one son, Thomas (and a direct ancestor of mine) seemed to really, really like that place. For what does he do but get slung back in there when he's 50? His wife Ann either scarpered or died, which really was probably the most sensible option. What a joyless lot! They could have at least called one of their sons Asterix.

Anyway, so I Googled Walton workhouse. Pssh! Good thing nobody ends up there these days. And it was this: 



At which point, I was all OMGWTF! Because, during a particularly depressing and awful, awful stint working at Aintree hospital, I had to go to the grey, ugly, despairing Walton hospital site to work. I honestly thought my working life could not get any worse. And the view from my window in that hellish place was... this clock tower. Yes, Walton Workhouse became Walton Hospital. The Gaul Fail continues for another generation. D: 

Comments

[versailles-rose.livejournal.com]

Holy Crap. That's weird.

[rebness.livejournal.com]

It does kind of spook me. Honestly, I still shudder when I think of that place. I was so desperately unhappy there - not even because of the silly job - just because it was so oppressive. Ugh.

[mumsisdaughter]

You never know what you'll finding digging into the lives of your ancestors. Can't see the picture but I know what it looks like. Ormskirk Workhouse became Ormskirk Hospital. It must have been a common use for the buildings when their old use was over.

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Good point! It actually got me reading up on Alder Hey, etc. My parents were both born in a Liverpool hospital that has been shut down (um, I don't remember which one...) I should read up on Ormskirk, as well.

It's really weird. I love finding out more about my ancestors, but it's also a little dark, because there are just so many generations in this branch of the family that seem to try and try, but always fail in the end. To me, they're just so many names on pap...er, the internet, but to think of these generations, these people and what they had to go through!

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Although perhaps my brother could do with a stint in a workhouse... haha...

[mothergoddamn.livejournal.com]

I knew when I met you there was a criminal element in your beady little eyes.