The Diary of Nathaniel Bryceson (Part 9 - Final)

[Daisy Loo]

There was a petition going in the Common room a few days ago regarding this workhouse.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,514457.0.html

[Ruskie]

I signed the petition in the early days, and in the last week or two received emails requesting more signatures. The close proximity of Dickens home was a fairly recent discovery which strengthens the case.

Little do they know that it was also the place of death of Poor Old Granny Shepard - yet another reason to save it! 

[Ruskie]

Hello to all Nathaniel fans. 

I am still periodically dipping into this topic and trying to fill in some of the gaps we still have. My main obsessions have been to located Mary Bryceson in the 1841 census, and to find Matthew Ward in the 1851 census (or his death). Still no luck. 

I have had poor Mongibello and the staff at the Westminster Archives chasing around for a death/burial which I suspected was our Uncle John Shepperd, but they were unable to track him down. In the end I purchased the death certificate:
17th Jan 1868
6 Douglas Street
John Shepperd
male
64 years
Stone Sawyer
cause of death : Diarrhoea 5 weeks certified
Informant: X the mark of Jane Sulch or Lulch (?) present at the death, 6 Douglas Street Westminster.

So definitely our Uncle John - he is even at the same address as he was in the 1861 census.

I just thought some of you may be interested.  I'll post agin with any updates.

[Siamese Girl]

I still think about Nat so it's nice to know a few of the unanswered questions are being answered - 5 weeks  of diarrhoea doesn't sound very nice  I wonder what it was - cholera ? (would they have put that as cause of death on the certificate?)  or some kind of what they would have called food poisoning? The Victorians didn't know about any of the bacterial infections that cause gastroenteritis and anyway had no ABs to treat it.

Carole

[Ruskie]

I'm sure we all still think very fondly of Nat. 

I also wondered about poor Uncle John too Carole. I have a d/c for ancestor of my OH who died in 1854 and her cause of death was "Asiatic Cholera 23 hours", but I'm not sure if they were always so specific. (she left 8 children and her husband remarried exactly eight weeks to the day after her death  ).

I'm not sure John died of Cholera as I think it strikes a lot quicker as per my example. Sounds dreadful doesn't it especially with the lack of 'facilities' available at the time. 

I was considering buying Mary's (Nat's mother) d/c, but although we know her date of burial:
29 Oct 1847, St Anne, Soho, Mary Ward, Richmond Buildings, age 50
there are two possible deaths:
Both deaths Dec 1/4 1847,
Ward Mary,
either St Pancras 1/328
OR Marylebone 1/152  Looking at where the deaths are registered if someone can narrow down which would be the most likely, I may (have to) buy it. 

There is also Granny Shepard's death, but due to her age I expect her cause of death will be age related and maybe vague so I'm not sure I would bother to purchase that:
20th Nov 1851
Parish of St Pancras
Mary Shepard buried, age 80,
abode: Infirmary

[alpinecottage]

5 weeks  of diarrhoea doesn't sound very nice  I wonder what it was - cholera ? (would they have put that as cause of death on the certificate?)  or some kind of what they would have called food poisoning?

Carole

A blockage in the back passage can cause diarrhoea, so possibly colon cancer or something similar.  Alternatively, possibly something like Crohn's Disease, which can strike between ages 50-70.

[Ruskie]

I have just discoved that there is to be a talk about Nathaniel Bryceson. The following is from the Westminster Achives website:

The life and loves of a Victorian Clerk: an illustrated talk

Monday 12 November, 6.30pm at Maida Vale Library

 

In 2010, Westminster City Archives published the extraordinary diary of a Victorian teenager, Nathaniel Bryceson.

Brimming with fascinating details of his working life in London and of his relationship with his mistress Ann Fox, the journal is a truly personal take on the life of a young Victorian Londoner as he embarks upon adulthood.



Come and hear our Local Studies Librarian share entertaining and insightful stories from the diary at Maida Vale Library. The talk will be illustrated with images from the collections of Westminster City Archives.

Free event. No booking required

Contact archives@westminster.gov.uk or maidavalelibrary@westminster.gov.uk for more information

So if any of you are local, you may be interested in popping along.

I would LOVE to go, but it is not physically possible I'm afraid.

If anyone does go, could you please pop back to this thread and let us know how it was. And, while you are there, please ask when the book is coming out. 

[deb usa]

I would LOVE to go too.... 

Hi Ruskie 

[Ruskie]

Hi Deb! 

How much fun would that talk be? We could probably give them a run for their money though, with our 'intimate' knowledge on Nat.

It would be wonderful if a rootschat representative went along. I hope someone can make it. Maybe Mongibello?