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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cheshire => Topic started by: Luzzu on Saturday 01 June 24 20:37 BST (UK)
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Trying to find out anything about John Gibbin who was a quack doctor living near St Batholomew's Church in Wilmslow.
He is referenced in a book published in 1886 as follows:- "This cottage was tenanted by John Gibbin. a quack doctor, who was frequently absent. His wife gained a little money by providing accommodation for lodgers."
The cottages where he is supposed to be are in an area called "Old Bridge" and "Bridge Foot" and they were close to Chancel Lane. When the Church extended the grave yard down towards the River Bollin, the cottages were demolished. They were there in 1841 and 1851 and there were a few remaining in 1861 and all gone by 1862.
The census references are:-
HO107/115/5/30/2 - 1841 Old Bridge
HO107/2162/33/1 - 1851 Bridge Foot
RG09/2588/51/16/75 - 1861 Old Bridge
This is all the information I have.
Thanks :)
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I'm not having any luck matching the census references to a John Gibbin
Was he still alive at those times?
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I took OP to mean the properties were there in 1841 & 1851 and just a few still in 1861
I’ve been looking in the papers. One would expect a Quack Doctor to have lots of advertisements. But am seeing nothing.
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Yes the census references refer to the cottages where he or his wife should be but they aren’t there. I am sorry I have the briefest of information and don’t even know when he was born or how old he was.
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The author didn't seem to know much about him but must have got that info from somewhere. Given that the book was written in 1886 it's more likely the locals would remember him
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In 1881 & 1882 a serial list of “past worthies” of Wilmslow was published. Based on the year 1836
Finally found the Gs.
No help. But a reminder to look for Gibbon
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Here’s a mention. But 1893…it’s a very interesting long article about Quack Doctors.
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FindMyPast has an index to "N Cheshire Memorial Inscriptions"
That has a John GIBBON buried at St Bartholomew age 59 January 1866
The burial register that matches says he was of Knutsford
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How does one define a "Quack Doctor"? Presumably, not a member of the Society of Apothecaries, but I would want to write to that Society (headquarters in London), to ask them to check their records. They answered an enquiry of mine most helpfully.
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Thanks for your replies. The article from 1893 and the 1866 burial are interesting, I will check them out. I will also write to the Society of Apothecaries. As to the definition of a quack doctor, I think it is someone not qualified who pretends to have medical knowledge and who recommends treatments that are ineffective.
I have attached two extracts from the books I have. Both were written by local men. In 1971 Howard Hodson wrote about the area of Old Bridge/Bridge Foot and he referred to Alfred Fryer's book which was written in 1886.
Alfred Fryer mentions Torkington's cottage and Josiah Torkington appears on both the 1841 and 1851.
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Luzzu wrote: "As to the definition of a quack doctor, I think it is someone not qualified who pretends to have medical knowledge and who recommends treatments that are ineffective."
I think that is probably a good description of what it should mean. However, it is easy to imagine the term being applied to a doctor who was eccentric or incompetent, or who had a bad reputation for some other reason, but who was, nevertheless, properly qualified. That is why I hope you will check if he was licensed by the S.O.A..
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Yes I agree and I will check.
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You can check the occupancy of the cottages in question on the Cheshire Tithe Map website here - https://maps.cheshireeast.gov.uk/tithemaps/
A search for Gibbon, however, in the whole of Cheshire, returns no results.
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Thank you very much. I will take a look.
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Luzzu wrote: "As to the definition of a quack doctor, I think it is someone not qualified who pretends to have medical knowledge and who recommends treatments that are ineffective."
I think that is probably a good description of what it should mean. However, it is easy to imagine the term being applied to a doctor who was eccentric or incompetent, or who had a bad reputation for some other reason, but who was, nevertheless, properly qualified. That is why I hope you will check if he was licensed by the S.O.A..
Just a quick update. I have been in touch with the S.O.A. and have received an acknowledgement of my enquiry saying that the archivist will check for me in due course.
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Another small update, I have now heard back from the Society of Apothercaries and John Gibbin doesn't appear on any of their databases.
I haven't got much further but am following up the 1866 burial at St Bartholomew's, Wilmslow of John Gibbon, aged 59 years.
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Luzzu, in a book about Cheshire I noticed a passage mentioning the wife of a quack doctor living near the church at Wilmslow, in 1851 (I think). I suspect you already know this, but I could quote it if you think it might help.
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Thanks Watson. I think it will be similar to the two passages I attached at the beginning of the post. The area is Old Bridge or Bridgefoot. I checked the 1841, 1851 and 1861 census and I can't see anyone who could be the wife of a quack doctor. It would be good if I could identify her as it would be a lead. Also the 1841 Tithe Map of the area isn't showing any possibles.
The 1866 burial at St Bartholomews of John Gibbon, aged 59 years, of Knutsford isn't getting me anywhere.
???
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Have you seen theses, not sure it fits Quack Dr
1841 https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/?name=john+_gibbon&event=_wilmslow-cheshire-england-united+kingdom_82538&birth=1806
1861 census
RG9 P 2588 F 155 Pge 13
Loney ( Lacey?) Green, Pownalfed, Altrincham
Margaret Gibbon w b 1777 Wilmslow
John Gibbon unm b 1806 Cotton handloom weaver Wilmslow
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Thanks for posting these. I have looked at these but I am just not sure.
The wife of the quack doctor was referenced in an 1886 book as living in a cottage at Bollin Fee at either Old Bridge or Bridgefoot in 1851 but there is no one who fits that description in these cottages in either 1841, 1851 or 1861. By 1862 the cottages had been demolished.
HO107/115/5/30/2 - 1841 Old Bridge
HO107/2162/33/1 - 1851 Bridge Foot
RG09/2588/51/16/75 - 1861 Old Bridge
???