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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: gringlestone on Monday 28 March 11 16:25 BST (UK)
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hi , i am new to this so not sure how it works so forgive me if i balls it up ::)
i am trying to find out what happened to my baby sister who was stillborn 35 yrs ago . i know she was born in hyde terrace hospital in leeds in july 1976 but as that hospital is no longer there im unsure on how to find records and such.
i have been told that if knew which cemetery they used for such things we could possibly trace that way .
my mum never saw her baby never mind get a stillbirth certificate so dont have much to go on really .
thanks in advance for any help u can give :)
sally
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Hi and welcome to Roots
Have you tried to find a death certificate for the baby?
I'm not sure on the Leeds area, but I know in Middlesbrough, when babies were stillborn, they were quite often buried in a grave with a adult. The baby would just be placed within the coffin. It was high lighted a few years ago and now nearly all the babies graves have been marked in some way.
I would imagine the best way to find out would be find the local cemetery/graveyard and ask in the office, or contact the council for the area, under bereavement services.
Good luck
Jane
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Unfortunately there may not be a grave number. When the registration of stillbirth and disposal by burial or cremation became mandatory, the involvement of the parents was relatively uncommon. Disposal was usually effected by the hospital through the good offices of a funeral director or local crematorium. The infant was placed in an already open grave, or cremated informally at the end of the days' funerals.
Stan
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hi thanks for yr help , but we have found her , i was put in touch with a woman who finds stillborn graves , spoke to her yesterday and she has just foned to say they have found her , have been given the grave number and everything so am very happy . thanks again
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What a great outcome!
Gringlestone, you are very fortunate
Dawn M
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Hello,
First time here ! Interested in 'gringlestone' story.I am twin and brother stillborn at Hyde Terrace Leeds 24/7/1949.
The usual mystery surrounds what happened to him.Having no success so far with cemetery records,authorities.'Gringlestone' mentions lady who finds graves etc...would really appreciate any information from anyone as to what would happen then. Apparently my father told that day that for $2.00 he could be buried with someone else ! My Mum now 91 and suddenly started talking about it, and desperate to know...my Dad no longer with us so can't ask him.
Any guidance would be great.
I was back in Yorkshire for 3 days earlier this month, :) but not enough time to really look at possible leads,
Thank you from Sydney
David
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Up until 25 years ago, stillborn babies were often disposed of without even consulting the parents and placed in unmarked graves with unrelated adults.
See http://www.rootschat.com/links/088i/
Stan
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Thank you Stan.
Yes I realise that it isn't going to be straightforward.Have done a lot of work on it so far, and will just keep trying.
Just hoping that someone has some specific knowledge of how it [stillbirth] was dealt with at Hyde Terrace.
Regards,David
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hi david , we found my sister in a cemetery in harehills , she was unmarked in grave with about 6 other adults , they had the records of her tho in the cemetery office . the woman who helped us trace her is called nancy walker , her email address is (*)
drop her a line , she will need basic details like yr mum and dads name , date and place of birth ect , she was really helpful and finds lots of graves of ' lost' babies . (*) . i was shocked at how quickly she located my sister , literally in a matter of hours . wishing you lots of luck in finding yr brother .x
(*) Moderator Comment: personal details and e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy, to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
New members must make at least three postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page: http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
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hi again david , just incase u cant contact nancy , the cemetery we found my sister in is Harehill cemetery kimberly road ls0 6lz , i think a lot of babies were buried here , u could try contacting them direct , they may be able to help . lots of luck :-)
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Thank you so much.I actually started at Harehills having seen reference made to that cemetery in connection with Hyde Terrace.
I contacted a lady at Lawnswood cemetery office, who said she couldn't find mention of my twin.Anyway with your lead to Nancy, that could be a great help.Thank you very much indeed.
Regards,
David
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To 'gringlestone'
Hello Sally,
Thanks for your guidance the other day.Have made contact, and Nancy going to see what she can do for me.
She has made a start, and it's just a question of response times from cemeteries and other authorities.
Will of course post any breakthrough's....finding her best progress so far !
Regards,
David
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David, are you in a position to send me a personal message.
If so can you confirm if the dead child was given a christian name plus include surname.
(Certain members who frequent the west riding board have access to a CD of Leeds burials).
Hope you find your info one way or another.
Regards Brian
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In England, your local hospital may also be able to help if the stillborn death was relatively recently and the hospital may have been involved in the patients care. ie in last 50 years. You contact the PALS officer - Patient Advice and liaison service and they may be able to guide you or contact various authoroties for you. It does take a while though so don't expect fast answers.
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For the benefit of others:
David has been in contact with me via PM, sadly his twin is not listed on my burial CD but I am now making contact with the Leeds burial records office.
Brian
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Up until 25 years ago, stillborn babies were often disposed of without even consulting the parents and placed in unmarked graves with unrelated adults.
See http://www.rootschat.com/links/088i/
Stan
Don't take that newspaper report a gospel as it contains a number of inaccuracies.
In many cases it is possible to find the graves of infants and stillborns.
I suggest keeping an eye out for Family History Magazines next month (dated November on the covers, published in October) for some interesting news
Cheers
Guy
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From information received, David's brother has been located in Leeds (Woodhouse cemetery) and message sent given location of unmarked grave.
Brian
As a postscript, be aware of the fact on multiple burials - There were in total 78 persons buried in that plot according to the burial records. Sad indeed
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Calverley Lad, that is at least 'closure' for David.
Good work!
Dawn M
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Have sent Personal Message Calverley Lad.......just an amazing result so big thank you to him and the Rootschat facility that made it possible.Other respondents too.....thanks for the goodwill.
My own 'sense of place' will now want to figure out where in the landscaoed grounds of the cemetery Martin might be.....so that's next !
My Mum so grateful for knowing more, despite being so long ,so she very happy and sad at same time.My Dad went to Leeds Uni,so to find that they now own the land that was once the cemetery a sort of satisfying closure.
Thanks to everyone that posted,and huge thanks to Calverley Lad for knowing where to look.....amazing.
David
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Having never been to the Woodhouse Cemetery, I couldn't possibly comment on the terrain?
All I know that there are high walls surrounding, must be a tranquil location.
Brian
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Good morning Brian,
A weekend in Sydney but thoughts entirely in Leeds.Thank you so much again.My Mum very keen I pass on her thanks too....very grateful.
I have looked up the cemetery and seems now landscaped with the gravestones used for paving and edges etc....some even buried.It looks pretty, and with some big architectural features.There would be worse places to finish up.
Going to contact the University who apparently have plot records etc.
Have a good Sunday,and thank you.
Best regards,
David
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If your mum is still in the UK, I have a phone No for the university dept that deals with matters of this cemetery.
Brian
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No Brian, she followed me out to Australia....but would be good to have that number.dc
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No I have is: (44) 113 3435518
That is Leeds University.
Regards Brian