RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: Yorky on Tuesday 01 June 10 16:27 BST (UK)
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Sarah Jane Roberts from Pembrokeshire was a domestic servant to Mr & Mrs Greenwood of Westbourne Terrace, Harpurhey.
Does anyone have any information or family folk lore with regard to this tragic event.
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I don't have any information, but do you have Sarah's death certificate - and if so what does it say? Have you looked for any surviving coroner's inquest report and/or local press reports around the relevant time?
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Are you sure it was 1880 found this on the burial site
04/01/1879, Sarah Jane Roberts, Philips Park Cemetery, CofE K1682
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After a quick call, this lady was a Housekeeper
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You've hit gold with this one
http://www.blacksheepindex.co.uk/BSI-RobRoby.pdf
Look down the list, these entries indicate news items on the lady, but they will cost you a couple of bob from this website to get copies.
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Closest death reg I can find is this:
Death, Mar qtr 1880
Sarah Jane ROBERTS aged 18
Prestwich 8d 314
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Hi Yorky
I've been on the Gale newspaper website. The murder was reported in local Manchester newspapers at the time, the earliest newspaper report I found was on the 9th Jan 1880.
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The inquest was reported in The Times of 24 Jan 1880 (the verdict having been given the previous day).
Verdict: "That deceased, Sarah Jane Roberts, died on the 7th of January, inst., in the township of Harpurhey, from the effects of a fractured skull, produced by violent blows inflicted by some person or persons unknown, and such person or persons wilfully and of malice aforethought murdered her; and the jry also find that the deceased was 18 years of age."
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Knew I had seen her name before on Rootschat
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,390705.15.html
also
http://www.rootschat.com/links/06pf/ read page 11
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Summary of the rather fishy set of facts related in The Times' report of the inquest:
Sarah Jane ("Jane") was a domestic servant to 70 yr old Mr Greenwood (who was deaf, and a property-owner) and his wife. At the relevant time Mrs G had been confined to bed through illness for about three weeks.
On 7 January 1880 an elderly Mr Cooper (Mr G's long-standing business partner) came to see Mr Greenwood at his home. On arrival he spotted an unopened letter on the floor of the lobby. Sarah Jane picked it up and handed Mr Greenwood the letter from a mystery writer saying Mr G was to go to the Three Tuns pub between 5 and 6 that evening about some land. Mr Cooper went home to read the paper and smoke his pipe. Mr G reluctantly went the three quarters of a mile to the pub, did not find his mystery correspondent, stayed two minutes and went home.
Meanwhile, whilst Mr G was out, the ailing Mrs G heard Sarah Jane downstairs and heard her open the door to another person, who entered the house. All went quiet for 5 minutes, after which there were female screams. Mrs G went downstairs, couldn't find Sarah Jane, shouted "Murder" to attract attention - when neighbours (?) came in they found Sarah Jane on the kitchen floor.
In due course Mr G arrived home to find a commotion, and Mr Cooper heard about it all later that evening.
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Mr Cooper wrote to the newspapers as he was concerned about 'slanderous reports' that he knew more about the case than he was 'inclined to make public' and apparently rumours of his suicide had been circulating.
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Hi everyone
Can I take the opportunity here to mention how to get free access the Gale newspaper archive.
Moderator comment: We suggest you ask at your local library.
Although many libraries offer this service, it is usually only intended for the use of their members.
Because so many have applied for "membership" of Libraries in order to access British Library Newspapers for free recently, they are considering withdrawing the service, even for genuine local researchers.
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Less than a handful of graves remain here
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Many thanks to all who have responded. I made the posting on behalf of a friend who has no computer. She is making a study of this particular case as part of a local studies exercise. Not really knowing where to start I suggested a posting here.
She has something to start her off now and sends her thanks also.
Yorky
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Can add one more bit to this story
Entry from the Church Register
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There is a full chapter about this story which looks very well researched in Murder and Crime in Lancashire by Martin Baggoley
Very interesting reading
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I know this is an old thread, but found an image of the poor lass, and her actual headstone has long gone as well :'(