Longton (Staffs) Cemetery - COLLIER

[keithwfhc]

I am hoping that someone could please search for the burial of Fanny COLLIER in the years 1903 to 1905 at Longton (Staffordshire) Cemetery.  She was born 2nd October 1866 and was married to Thomas COLLIER (who was born Gerard COLLIER).  According to a famous story in spiritualism, a medium told her 14-year old daughter, also called Fanny COLLIER (she was born late 1889 or early 1890) that her mother had died.  At that time, Fanny was with an aunt, but had seen her mother an hour ago.  Fanny rushed home in tears to find that her mother had indeed died.  A problem with this story has been that no death registration is recorded in the GRO death indexes at any time between the 1901 and 1911 census at any place remotely near Longton, which is where she was living.  The question therefore arises as to whether there is evidence of Fanny the elder's death.  Her husband Thomas, a coal miner with a large family, must be presumed not to have been a man of means, so Longton Cemetery seems the likeliest place to find a burial - if there was one.  A negative result would be of considerable interest.

[Zen rabbit]

Nothing on BMD or freereg. Tried fanny and Francis

[hheapet]

Hi, Nothing on Find My Past either

Peter

[CaroleW]

I am assuming Thomas is shown as a widower on the 1911 census??

[keithwfhc]

Thanks for your interest.  Yes, the 1911 census shows Thomas COLLIER as a widower and, of course, does not show Fanny COLLIER the elder.  The 1901 census shows Thomas, Fanny the elder and Fanny the younger, as expected.

Of course, the mere fact that Thomas COLLIER is shown as a widower on the 1911 census does not necessarily mean that he really was.

I have e-mailed the Longton Spiritualist Church to ask them if they have any evidence of Fanny the elder's death and have yet to receive a reply.  I am not hopeful that anyone has troubled to check the facts !

[Zen rabbit]

Now a curious thing. No death in Staffordshire is recorded, that I can find, for a Fanny or Francis Collier in the years 1901 - 1905 but also no death is recorded for the years 1900 - 1911. If she was in the 1901 census but dead by 1911 then she didn't die in Staffordshire it would seem.

[CaroleW]

The 1901 transcription shows the family living in Newhall Staffs - registration district Burton on Trent

However - the 1901 image shows the county as Derbyshire and the UD as Swadlincote

The only other thing I can think of is that the GRO page containing the entry is indecipherable hence no transcription

[Zen rabbit]

The nearest I can find in age is Fanny Collier died 1905 aged 41 Worcester district vol 6c page 131.
A long shot and the only reason I can think of that they might be there is if they had been transferred to a hospital in the district

[keithwfhc]

Hi Zen rabbit,
I agree that the death registration in Worcester RD (Worcester City) in 1905 is the nearest that could be found, but it is not credible that Fanny could have seen her mother an hour previously if her mother was in Worcester at the time.

Unfortunately, I live some 200 miles from Longton Cemetery and so am in no position to search the records.  According to the Stoke-on-Trent cemeteries website, one should telephone the Carmountside Cemetery on 01782 235050, which has all the records for the Stoke-on-Trent cemeteries including Longton.  It states that they are arranged by date, but not in name order.  I will find out whether there is a search fee.