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Note: No records for Irish Censuses 1851 & 1861 for Cork survived the explosion and fire of 30th June 1922 in Dublin. When William Pugh and Mary Anne Preston married in 1852, William Pugh was Ward Master in the Workhouse, Great Britain Street, Cork, County Cork, Ireland.
The Master
In 1840 the Poor Law Commissioners suggested non-commissioned army and constabulary officers would make the most suitable workhouse masters. His duties included:
Keeping a register of all the paupers admitted,
Maintaining discipline,
Reading prayers to the paupers before breakfast and after supper,
Providing and enforcing the employment of the able-bodied paupers during the hours of labour,
Training the youth and keeping the partially disabled paupers occupied to the extent of their ability and preventing idleness at all time,
Reporting regularly to the guardians,
Procuring provisions and work material,
Supplying the names of boys and girls suitable for permanent employment outside the workhouse e.g. service, trades etc,
Notifying the medical officer of death,
Burying paupers not removed by family or friends and charging the cost to the electoral division to which the deceased belonged.
When their son John was born in 1854, William described himself as a former Sergeant in the 60th Rifles resident in the Military Prison, Cork, County Cork, Ireland.
No record at the National Archives of his army service. May have taken his father's military personna to obtain post in the Workhouse and afterwards in the Military Prison.
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