puzzling death record

[gargoyle]

My great uncle was one John Power and he married Marie Solan in 1907,
Marie died in 1921.

Years later John came to live with my family in Flowery Field Hyde, he was in fact terminaly ill and died whilst with us.

I recall his death vividly although young at the time, I'm unable to remember the year. The mystery is I'm unable to find his Death on Cheshire BMD or in the GRO Indexes, as yet he doesn't appear on the Cemetery records either. As we lived opposite the funeral directors Samuel Bradbury and son who also buried my parents I assume they also interred my Great uncle.

Can anyone exlain this enigma? I believe his death must have occured sometime from 1938 to 1942.
Would wartime have any effect on record keepind?

[Woody]

I can't really answer the question about missing records, but is it possible that he actually died in a hospital local to Tameside, but elsewhere ?

Maria Solan was born 1877 in Ashton under Lyne, and there are census documents for her between 1881 and 1911, although the 1881 return lists her whole family as 'Dolan'. Her marriage was 1907 at Ashton.

There's a Failsworth birth record for a John Powell in 1877 and similarly, census returns for the years 1881-1911. From the BMD and census records, I think he was in the boiler industry and lived in Hartlepool for a number of years prior to marriage back here in Ashton.

The only death record for a John Powell born about 1877 was registered at Oldham, 1942, aged 66 (ref Vol , page 674). Since there are no death records at all available for Oldham on Lancashire BMD, this event is highly unlikely to appear on FreeBMD either, even if the transcriptions were as recent as the 1940s - which they aren't.

Might not be the right person, but admission to an Oldham hospital in the final days of his life isn't an impossible outcome ?

[gargoyle]

Oct 1, 2009 11:00:30 GMT Woody said:

I can't really answer the question about missing records, but is it possible that he actually died in a hospital local to Tameside, but elsewhere ?


That's very fast work Woody, it took me ages to cover the same ground.

No, he actualy died in the back bedroom of our house and my Father washed and shaved him and layed him out.

I saw him myself with the two big candles alight all night as in traditional Catholic manner. It has remained with me as an abiding memory, I recall being afraid to go past the room and even now I can hear my Fathers voice saying,as he took me by the hand and led me to bed, "He can't hurt you now and even if he could, he wouldn't"

So this remains one of those family mysteries, thank you anyway for your efforts.

[janethowarth54]

I know Murrays Funeral Directors bought Bradburys out many years ago.
They might be able to help.