Cause of death - 'Visitation of God' ?

[kate beasley]

A death certificate records cause of death as 'Visitation of God?'
Has anyone else ever come across this term?
I assume it was some kind of accident.  The Deputy Coroner was the informant but the Coroner's records (1870) have been destroyed!!!
Have searched newspapers but no joy there.

 

['Tricia]

Often used in a sudden unexpected and unexplained death. where they have no idea of cause. Probably heart attack or stroke. Use is quite common. I had an instance reported in a newspaper where a mum went missing and was later found dead in an outhouse. Cause given was vistation by God.

Expect someone will give a more detailed explanation.

Tricia

[JAP]

No more details but, if you Google for

"visitation of God" + genealogy

you will get many hits and a good idea of the circumstances in which the expression was used.

JAP

[RJ_Paton]

It was a term in favour for some time and was used as a catch all for any unexplained death where there was no known medical history and was perhaps most often used in what we now know as "Cot Death" in infants. Although as has been said it was also used for adults, again where nothing was known about any possible medical condition suffered by the deceased.
The term began to fall out of favour as pathology began to push the bounds of known medical science.

One area where a similar term is still in use is insurance as in "Caused by an Act of God" to explain any non attributable accident  (or to get the insurance company out of making any payment  )

[kate beasley]

Much appreciate all your replies.   
And there was I thinking he had been struck by lightning!!

 

[Sylviaann]

I have one from 1842.  There was an inquest.  In cause of death it says
"Effusion of blood to the left ventricle of the brain.  Verdict Died by the visitation of God"

This I believe is what we know of as a stroke.

Great terminology.  I got some people, not normally family historians, interested when I told them about it.

Sylviaann

[kate beasley]

Thanks very much for your reply.  I'm slightly disappointed 'cos I thought I had found something of real interest.  I was thinking he might have been struck down by lightning!!!  Never mind.
Thanks again

[prozac]

I recieved a message today with information about some of my ancestors, and I came across an ancestor that died in 1842, his cause of death was Visitation Of God.

My mother and I are curious as to what this may have meant?! It's intriuged me quite a bit!


Moderator Comment: topics merged

[Ninatoo]

I wonder if that was a way of saying that the doctor had no idea why the person died? An act of God...sort of thing?