McKenna family of Hill Top, Dipton

[Elliven]

Can anyone please help to solve an intriguing mystery regarding the McKenna family of Hill Top, Dipton.  Two members of that family are buried in Jesmond Old Cemetery within about 8 weeks of each other in 1908.  They were Thomas McKenna buried 6th May 1908 grave ref Ward 3 Section 4D and Catherine McKenna buried 2nd July 1908 grave ref Ward 3 Section 3D.

At that time, Jesmond was a fairly well to do area and Hill Top was a very poor area so I find it hard to believe that their family could afford to have them taken there for burial.

Has anyone any idea if there was any sort of epidemic at the time - something bad enough to have them taken there for the purpose of isolation and treatment?  Perhaps even serious enough to make carriers refuse to transport the bodies home.

Any information would be welcome.  Many thanks

[JenB]

Both deaths occurred in Lanchester Registration District, so they weren’t in Newcastle at the time of death.

[rosie99]

You can purchase both death certificates as digital copies for £3 each, that would answer their cause of death

[Elliven]

JenB,

Thank you.  Do you know if it was compulsory to register deaths that occurred outside your home area both in the place of death and at home or would it be acceptable to register it at the place of death only?  I can't understand how the family could have afforded to take them so far away for burial or why they would do that since they were both born locally.

Neville

[Elliven]

rosie99

Thank you.  I think I will have to do that anyway.  But I have to take advice from people like yourself and JenB because I am used to tracking buildings rather than people.

Neville

[AlanBoyd]

3 July 1908: Consett Guardian

DEATHS
...
McKENNA.—At O'Neill's Buiidings, Hill Top, Dipton, on the 30th June, Catherine McKenna, widow of the late Thomas McKenna.

[JenB]

The death would only be registered in the district in which it took place.

As Rosie says, you can purchase the death certificates, as digital images, you will get them instantly and they will only cost £3 each.

[AlanBoyd]

There is a record of exhumation and reburial from 1971 for Ward III, Section 4D, No. 1 [plus annotation that may be UNCON] Four names are listed including Catherine McKenna.
Ann Walton 1860
Margaret Nattrass 1905
C McK 1908
Mary Eliz Layton 1953

[JenB]

Here is the relevant burial index entry from Old Jesmond Cemetery (not that it helps as to why?)

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ7-Z7VP?cat=828520&i=350&lang=en