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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => London and Middlesex => Topic started by: karenlee on Monday 25 April 11 05:59 BST (UK)
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Hi All
Just found two death references from the Stepney Union Workhouse. One listed as having been buried in Ilford, the other " buried by friends".
I suppose this means she could be just about anywhere??
Does anyone have any information or ideas that might help find her burial place please??
Cheers
Karenlee
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Hi
Have you read the burial guide to London burials placed at the top of the two London and Middlesex main boards.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,403485.0.html
There is often no easy answer to finding London burials once churchyards were closed in the early 1850s. The nearest cemetery but not necessarily were the burial took place would be Tower Hamlets. The guide gives the list of cemeteries and the contacts for each.
Regards
Valda
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Hi
Yes I did read that.... and pretty much decided that I had no chance whatsoever of finding her.... since it was a Workhouse death I guessed it would make it doubly hard.
But... there is always hope that someone who has trodden this path before me might have found something useful that might help me out.
Thanks anyway... I guess there is no easy answer to this ... if there is an answer at all....
Karenlee
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Hi Karen
You haven't posted her name or date of death :-\
Dawn
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Mary EDWARDS death 4th Mar 1869. Her husband John EDWARDS 28th Mar 1871
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Mary Edwards estimated death date: March 4, 1869 age: 78 born: about 1791
Parish or Poor Law Union: Stepney Borough: Tower Hamlets County: London
your lady?
dollylee
added:
John Edwards estimated death date: March 28, 1871 age: 69 born about : 1803
Parish or Poor Law Union: Stepney Borough: Tower Hamlets County: London
look like them ..... ;o)
London England Deaths and Burials 1813-1980
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Yep That's them... I have the death certs for both but I don't know where they buried Mary... John was Ilford but Mary... who knows..
Thanks
Karenlee
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Sorry karenlee .... the information I originally posted in this space was wrong so as not to confuse things I deleted it.
dollylee
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Hi
Workhouse deaths from workhouse registers can be online as the Edwards deaths are, but as far as the East End of London is concerned as yet not burials.
A workhouse death doesn't mean Mary was a pauper. Many workhouse infirmaries became National Health Hospitals in 1948. The fact her body was not buried by the poor law union also indicates she was privately buried by friends/family. This may mean she was buried in a common grave if the family could not afford to pay for a cemetery plot but everything else - the funeral was paid for by the family. If buried in common graves she and her husband would not be buried together. Bow/Tower Hamlets cemetery would be the nearest and perhaps likeliest particularly if the family had lived in the area for sometime. The workhouse death register states Mary was from Shadwell as was her husband though his body states Ilford and not taken by friends as Mary's states.
Information on Tower Hamlets Cemetery
http://www.towerhamletscemetery.org/burials.pdf
http://www.towerhamletscemetery.org/thcpaboutus.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/05/10/tower_hamlets_cemetery_feature.shtml
There is a burial guide on the Essex Rootschat board.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,525692.0.html
Around 1871 (Ilford now part of the London borough of Redbridge) this area would not as yet have closed its churchyards as it was far less urbanised. The dates of the opening of cemeteries begins to indicate when churchyards might start to close in the area, so the burial could possibly be in a churchyard in Ilford. The other more probable possibility is since so many deaths in the workhouse state Ilford it would be more likely that for John's burial at least it was dealt with by the poor law union. The City of London cemetery opened in 1856 (see under the London borough of Newham in the guide) it is very close to Ilford and Stepney Union could well be sending its pauper burials there. Cemeteries vied for institutional business because though the costs of those burials was lower the work was regular and there were a large amount of such burials).
Use Google maps and put in Aldersbrook Road where the cemetery is and Ilford (in directions) and you'll see how close this cemetery is though officially its address is Manor Park it is often given as Ilford.
Regards
Valda
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Hi
I'm not sure if this is helpful at all (or even true)
but if I had a relative 'buried by friends' my thoughts would go to the Religious Society of Friends, also known as friends or quakers.
I guess that might help narrow her burial down to a Quaker cemetary.
I'm not sure if this is right but it would be my guess
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Hi CV-S
Thanks for your comment but in this case 'buried by friends' was frequently used in workouse death registers to indicate that the deceased's body had been claimed and wasn't being buried 'on the parish'.
The register page with Mary on it has 5 other entries 'buried by friends'.
Dawn
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Did the Google Maps search and can see what you mean about proximity Valda. I guess Mary's resting place will remain a bit of a mystery. Doubt that any of the family could have afforded a headstone since they were all riggers and boatmen on the Thames and lived in Ratcliffe and Shadwell.
Thanks for all your input and suggestions, I think I might give up on finding Mary's burial for now and pursue some lines that might just be a little more fruitful... ;) ;)
Cheers
Karenlee
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Karenlee,
I recently came across a rellie who died (1913) in the Constance Road Workhouse.
I thought it was quite sad for him to die in the Workhouse, when I knew he had family. I did some research and found that a workhouse death did not mean he was a pauper (as Valda has stated). It was also recorded that he was "buried by friends".
Just wondering if you found Mary & John Edwards, in the Admission & Discharge Register...... if you haven't here is the link. It does give you a little more information about them.
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1557&path=
R/h side - Browse Collection - Borough- Tower Hamlets
Poor Law Union - Stepney
Record Type - Admission & Discharge - Section - Bromley House: Admission & Discharge Register - 1867-1883
Mary is image 122 - John - 123.
Not the burial place - I'm afraid. :(
Sarra
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Hi CV-S
Thanks for your comment but in this case 'buried by friends' was frequently used in workouse death registers to indicate that the deceased's body had been claimed and wasn't being buried 'on the parish'.
The register page with Mary on it has 5 other entries 'buried by friends'.
Dawn
Oops - sorry!
Hope I didn't mislead anyone.
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I think I have found my 3rd gr grandmother dying Poplar Union Workhouse 1904, 'buried by friends' - would the DC give me any indication as to who these friends are - she has a common name so am not sure if this is her without some further indentifying information,
thanks,
jan
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Hi
The named person will be whoever registered the death.
http://www.dixons.clara.co.uk/Certificates/deaths.htm#COL9
The information on this web page details the sort of information you will find on a death certificate.
Regards
Valda