Martin H. Watson Family Tree

In February. 1808, the proposal was made to establish a Girls' Charity School. where 'a certain number of female children will be maintained. clothed, and educated, taught reading, writing, sewing. marking, knitting: and when they have attained a proper age they will be instructed in every necessary qualification to make them useful household servants; so that at the period of fifteen or sixteen they will be enabled to earn a creditable livelihood, either by their independent labour. or. by their services in respectable families.' At a public meeting in October. 1808. to consider celebrations for the approaching Golden Jubilee of King George III. it was resolved to mark the event by erecting a building for the charity. Fund raising began and the sum of £1,117 was raised. This, together with a £500 legacy from Thomas Henshaw of Oldham, enabled the construction of the School at a site on New Bridge Street. on the borders of Strangeways Park. The land was obtained on a 99-year lease. from October 1810. from Lord Ducie at an annual rent of £15,

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Manchester/

https://manchesterhistory.net/manchester/gone/workhouse.html

Workhouses were where people who had no home or job could work in exchange for basic food and shelter. Often these homeless people were orphaned and abandoned children, the sick, the disabled, the elderly and unmarried mothers. Living conditions were deliberately made harsh to put people off entering, the workhouse was the last resort for desperate people when nobody else could or would help them.

http://www.archivesplus.org/history/patients-paupers-and-prisoners/