Spanish flu in Torbay

[PATc3]

I am a member of the Torquay Library local history group. Our latest project is on the Spanish 'Flu epidemic starting in 1918. This project is in conjunction with health bodies and Torquay Museum.
 
We know about the loss of life to the 'flu amongst the American and ANZAC troops here in the Bay, but not so much about the everyday population. I am trying to look at a few local victims and to gather their stories to illustrate how it affected people.

Do you have anyone in your family tree who died from this 'flu and lived in Torquay or Paignton (Brixham are doing their own research) ? If so please let me know and if you are happy for us to do so we will include them in this work.
Thanks

[Mowsehowse]

Expect you have seen this article Pat?

http://wearesouthdevon.com/1918-torbay-gets-the-flu/

[PATc3]

Thanks very much, yes I have seen - it was written by one of our group  .
Ta for taking the trouble though

[Miles Roland Henderson]

Hello yes, I have family who died from Spanish Flu.

Basically, the story is this:

There were two brothers Thomas Henry Rodgers and Samuel Rodgers.

Thomas was married to Rosinia and had 5 daughters.  Samuel was married to Alice Mabel Davey (known as Mabel) and had 4 children.

On the 23rd November 1918, Samuel died from pneumonia and influenza at 35 Springfield Road, Torquay.  Leaving Mabel a widow with 4 children.

A month later on the 23rd December 1918, Rosinia died from pneumonia and influenza at Bethel Cottage, Ellacombe, Torquay.  Leaving Thomas a widower with 5 children.

Both widowed, Thomas and Mabel combined their families and had 5 more daughters.  3 of which, are still living, my Grandmother 97 and her two sisters 95 and 98, 99 next month.

I have death certificates for both.

[avm228]

How fascinating  . Welcome to Rootschat, Miles.

Thomas and Rosinia Rodgers’ children were not all daughters though:

Hilda Rodgers, mother’s maiden name Churchward, Jun qtr 1906 Newton Abbot (died same qtr aged 0)
Leslie Thomas Edwin Rodgers, mother’s maiden name Churchward, Jun qtr 1907 Newton Abbot
Violet Rosinia Jessie Rodgers, mother’s maiden name Churchward, Sep qtr 1909 Newton Abbot
Grace Vera May Rodgers, mother’s maiden name Churchward, Jun qtr 1912 Newton Abbot
Frederick William Henry Rodgers, mother’s maiden name Churchward, Sep qtr 1915 Newton Abbot
Dorothy Constance Rodgers, mother’s maiden name Churchward, Jun qtr 1917 Newton Abbot

[Miles Roland Henderson]

Hi yes I know, it was a mistype.

I have researched this family extensively.  Although, DNA discoveries have shown that Rodgers may not have been their actual surname.

The detailed tree is on Ancestry if you have access.

Out of interest would you any information about this family in the Museum records.

[avm228]

You may also know that it was not lawful for a man to marry his deceased brother’s wife until the coming into force of the Deceased Brother’s Widow’s Marriage Act 1921, which may explain why Thomas and Mabel did not marry until 1922 despite getting together earlier than that.

[Miles Roland Henderson]

Yes, my Great Grandmother was disinherited as a result.  Her family were Builders / Masons called the Daveys who built a lot of houses around Plainmoor in Torquay.

[PATc3]

Thanks for replies, I have passed them on to the person at Torquay museum who is setting up the exhibition - all information gratefully received.
The Fatal 'Flu exhibition will open at the museum on 18th October and run until Feb 2019.

No doubt there will be items in the media about it nearer the time.
Thanks again