Genealogy Chat

Have searched extensively for death of great great grandfather after he was listed in workhouse in 1881- have gone down all avenues, religious creed registers, workhouse records etc, numerous death certs turning out to be wrong ones. Have checked voters rolls for wife etc, who was a widow on 1891 census, to see when she became widow, but try and try as I might just can't find death entry- My question is, If someone dies in the workhouse, could he have 'disappeared', ie sold for medical research or something similar. Surely his family would have to know what happens to his body?! Any opinions greatly received. Simone x

Somehow that sounds unlikely!!! More possible that the workhouse registered his death in such a way that you do not recognise it as his, or maybe he didn't die there? Hubby's rellie died in St Pancras workhouse and her age is five years out, when it had been correct on the census a year before. Plus they had the name of her late husband down wrong. We could have said ''that's not the one then'', but we were lucky to have some further evidence that this is the correct cert! Would you like to give his 1881 details and let others get it wrong too???? lol How could you look for his widow on the electoral rolls when women didn't get the vote for another 40 years?? Merry

Hi Merry- Thanks for reply- I was just clutching at straws really, imagination running riot now!! lol I have been searching with my cousin so we have looked at quite a few options between us. I looked at voters rolls because according to Liverpool Records office web site it said that women are sometimes recorded in the registers before 1918 in connection with ownership of property and the right to vote in local government elections rather than parliamentary elections. I did find his widow listed in 1886 at an address different to the one they lived at in 1881, although it is in a street that the family did live in at other times. My ancestor is Edward Jones born Derbyshire c1836, bricklayer- in Toxteth Park workhouse, Liverpool at 1881. I now have about 5 wrong certs, but there is one in Jun q 1881 age 35. I haven't bothered with this one because it is 10 years out but as you say perhaps I should! Think I need to get off this branch for a while. Sometimes a break does you good, probably can't see what's under my nose! Thanks Lyla- I thought that too, so have searched from 1881 to 1891, as his wife Maria is a widow in 1891. The latest cert I have is for 1891 age 55 but it's not him. Doesn't help that he has a common name as well! Thanks for your interest anyway Simone x

Aaaagggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! A JONES!!! Merry

Tee hee hee !!!!!!!!!!! Simone x

Thanks Lyla tried burials, no luck! not to worry, he'll probably turn up when I'm not looking! Simone x

Sd My 2 x GGF, who never went further than the Pub at the end of the road all his life, managed to die some 40 miles away from where he should have been, in a totally different Registration area. It didnt help that he was actually buried in the area he lived all his life! Took me five YEARS to track down his registration (common name) and I could paper Buckingham Palace with the wrong certs I got on the way. Olde Crone

Kaye, Nothing wrong with Jones (though I am not partial to Tom)....it's just that it's such a common name and if they are in Wales, there are only about three other surnames to choose from, making research extremely difficult!! Merry

Thanks Olde Crone- Looks like I may have quite a way to go then!!! Glad you got him in the end though. So fantastic when you get a result from something that's been difficult isn't it? I'll plod on then, Thanks Simone x

Just to add to this, I am currently reading a book about grave robbing, poverty and crime, in 1800s London, and apparently it was quite common for grave robbers to go to workhouses and claim the newly deceased as memebrs of their family, or steal newly deceased bodies, in order to sell on the bodies for medical research. They commonly did this outside of London to lessen the chances of getting caught. So it isn't an impossible theory! The book is very interesting and has loads of stuff in it giving me food for thought in my research with missing ancestors!! 'The Italian Boy' by Sarah Wise if anyone is interested, its really informative, especially about the London area at that time. Sarah

He may indeed not have been buried. A lot of Paupers bodies were used for medical research. However there should be a record of his death.

Thanks Sarah I'll have a look for that book. Thanks Grampa Jim I thought it may be possible but as you say there should be a death registration- perhaps if I go away from it for a bit and come back it'll be there. Fingers crossed! Simone x