01st December 2022

Ada's story

 

Members of our Poverty Research Group have been researching the lives of some of the children who appeared in our report ‘York waifs and strays: from workhouse to boarding out, 1879-83’.  How were pauper children treated in the second half of 19th century Britain - by the State and private institutions, religious bodies, charities and individuals?

We found that the York Poor Law Union Board of Guardians initially boarded-out (fostered) 20 children from the York Workhouse on the Huntington Road. Ada Jane Simpson was one of these, fostered in 1882 to Jacob Potter, a railway labourer living at Haxby railway station cottages.

Kathleen Richardson - Ada's great-granddaughter – saw our report online, and made contact, to share what she knew about Ada, who died in Hexham in 1972, aged 97.

Four generations: Edith, Kathleen, Ada and Ethel at Hexham in 1952

In Ada's Story, Kathleen reveals a remarkable story of resilience. From an early loss of parents, and separation from her grandparents and siblings, Ada developed into a strong and determined woman. This is a story that plays out in Yorkshire and the North East - York, Cottingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Hetton-le-Hole, Grange Villa, Slaley, Corbridge and Hexham.

Much of Ada's life was in domestic service, including as a cook for the Southern family in Corbridge from 1939 to 1951. She had three children.

We hope to work with Kathleen to develop a fuller picture of Ada's life.