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Post by jillwye on Feb 5, 2014 16:50:05 GMT
Hi there,
I have a sampler that I have been researching for a number of years, and am now tantalizingly close to ‘cracking’, but can’t quite make the final link, and I am convinced it is from the area the forum/society covers.
It is the story of a girl Elizabeth Wright who died in childbirth- she was a ‘virtuous bride of 22’ suggesting it was her first child. The Sampler is stitched in 1852 by Alice Wright which may be the child –suggesting it happened between 1842-52 (or a sister or other relative). When I bought the sampler I assumed with a lot of information given it would be easy to research- mentioning an inquest at the Queens Arms on Furnace Hill, and Dr Ross, but for several years I drew a blank as to even the area of the country, but then I came across a reference to Queens Arms Furnace Hill in the British Newspaper Archives, in Dukinfield and it was the first match I had, then I identified Henry Ross practicing as a ‘surgeon druggist’ in King St ( I have the first reference to him at ‘The Board of Health’ 1841, and know he died aged 40 in 1857). However despite trawling through newspaper archives looking for headlines or inquest details I have drawn another blank, I have searched for the death of Elizabeth, but without actually visiting to look at registers etc it is impossible to identify the right person-basically I think despite hours of fascinating research into 19th century medics and childbirth, I have drawn another blank, and am just wondering if it rings any bells with anybody
The Sampler reads as follows:
Good people hear my doleful tale
In plaintive accents though tis penned
A once loved wife no bewail
And griev to think on her sad end
She was youthful virtuous bride
Her age it was but twenty two
By murderous hands alas she died
She left on earth an orphan to
In child bed anguish she was slain
By Doctor Ross’s unskillful hand
Who thinks not what amount of pain
A victim to his skill can stand
An inquest at the Queens Arms on furnacehill
Prov’d but too true she’d had foul play
And that twas he that did kill her
I never shall forget that day
A post mortem and inquest did advance
To shew what twas thast caus’d her death
Twas as vile presumptuous ignorance
That robbed her of her earthly breath
The jury heard with careful ear
The evidence before them brought
Twas such as scaree’er did appear
Before in any other court
A guilty verdict then was given
Which all the world I think should know
And as’tis register’d in Heaven
It also shall be here below
Twas gross neglect and want of skill
Coupled with the Jury animad version
Hoping alsa no more he’d kill
But go to college and learn his lesson
O’er life’s career he’s cast a gloom
Mark’d by poignant grief and sorrow
And sent from earth to early tomb
A victim to neglect and hurry
Can he withstand the orphans gaze
Robb’d of its dearest earthly treasure
Or compensate in years or days
The suffering grief that’s void of measure
Thank you so much everyone for reading!! Jill Wye
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Post by lindylou on Feb 6, 2014 23:35:54 GMT
I've had a quick look at Cheshire BMD and wonder whether the following is of any use to you. There are 2 deaths in 1847 for a 22yr old Elizabeth Wright. There is only one marriage for a male called Wright to a female called Elizabeth. St Johns Dukinfield 1845 Joseph Wright to Elizabeth Cartwright. There are 2 births for Wright with mothers maiden name Cartwright Mary Ann Mar quarter 1846 and Elizabeth Ann March quarter 1847. It's a bit late now so I must leave it. Hope it helps.
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Post by jill wye on Feb 10, 2014 22:31:57 GMT
Thankyou lindylou- I had checked out the joseph wright lead but think I ruled it out- it looked positive i remember, so will go back and check it out again -i'll let you know what i conclude- thanks tho all leads are useful - trouble is I go round in circles,and down blind allies!!!
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Post by lindylou on Feb 11, 2014 19:17:04 GMT
Hi Jill, I found Joseph Wright on the 1841 census aged 18 and there was a sister Alice of the same age. This is what I thought might be the link. His father was William and checking the marriage on the Parish Record for Joseph and Elizabeth Cartwright shows his dad to be William and he was a Dresser as per census. No specific age or address was shown for either of them on the record. Does this help? Give me a shout if I can help further.
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Post by Jill Wye on Feb 24, 2014 12:48:27 GMT
I am so excited lindylou I think you might be onto something- 2 things had stood in my way here- I think I looked at the wrong joseph and Cartwrights and had stuck almost exclusively to Ancestry and findmypast- and not really considered cheshire BMD- HUGE mistake!! Lots of lessons to learn!! and I've been doing this sort of research for years! Anyway-thanks so much for putting me back on track and giving me those clues to work on- I may have to order both certificates for Elizabeth but will do more research first- will let you know how I get on!Thanks again so much.
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Post by Jill Wye on Feb 25, 2014 11:24:07 GMT
Hi again, as an addenda -isn't it strange that there is 2 EWs aged 22 in Dukinfield same quarter, when there are no others in Cheshire or Lancashire for the whole 10 years? Sounds to me it may be some sort of duplication?
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Post by lindylou on Feb 25, 2014 16:49:54 GMT
Hi Jill, I did wonder about that myself, bit of a coincidence! Unfortunately the database for burials for that period is no longer available on line. If Elizabeth was buried in a local cemetery a checked could have been made. I've been doing a bit more digging and am now very confident that I've found the link. However I don't want to spoil your fun, so if you want me to divulge my findings just let me know. Regards Lindy
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Post by Jill Wye on Mar 6, 2014 18:29:46 GMT
Hi again Lindy, Thanks again! Heres what I've found so far! I believe Josephs parents were William & Susannah living New St,Hyde 1841, and Astley St Dukinfield 1851. All their children except Joseph(?)were baptised in the Weslyan Chapel Cadishead Lancs. I can't find Joseph on the census again until 1881 when hes with his widowed mother again.So where did he go- I can't find a definite remarriage for him? Elizabeths living with parents Thomas Cartwright and Betty in 1841 I think (they're not there in 1851, but then neither are most of their neighbours.(Interestingly theres another Thomas and Betty (HO107/110/14) who put me off first time because their dau Betty is still there 1851!)They're address at King St ties in with Dr Ross, and the Queens Arms I beleive.I haven't found their childrens baptisms yet. The child Elizabeth Ann -presumably the result of the birth, according to cheshire BMD died as an infant in 1847, which wouldn't be surprising. I think I will send off for Elizabeths death certificate and ask them to check to make sure that the 2 are not duplicates- not sure what the difference is between GRO and local certificates is?- except they might be more amenable! On the inquest front- I had thought the only way to find details was via the newspapers but checking National Archives today, there is a suggestion there might be records in Quarter Session archives- so have sent an enquiry to Cheshire Archives just in case!(couldn't get thro on the phone)If the death certificate comes up trumps I'll have a definite date to search. I think thats about all the interesting stuff I've found so far- have you found anything different?
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Post by lindylou on Mar 7, 2014 18:07:58 GMT
Hi Jill, Firstly regarding the death cert for Elizabeth. I’ve always found the staff at Dukinfield Register Office very helpful and efficient. I wonder if you rang them and explained the double entry they might have a suggestion. When a request is made to the local register office they make a copy from the original registers. The GRO are sent copies of all BMDs every quarter, so a request to them is a copy of a copy.
Now to the nitty gritty. Checking the family on 1851, minus Joseph, there is Reuben who was born after registration began. Cheshire BMD shows his mum to be Taylor. I found a marriage for William and Susannah Taylor at St Elphin’s Warrington on 23rd Nov 1822. This was on Lancashire OPC. I found marriages for Alice, Mary and Martha who all married at St Paul’s Stayley and all had William Wright, Dresser as their father. I think that pretty much confirms the link, don’t you? Martha married John Bennett Aug 20th 1855 Alice married Thomas Booth Dec 9th 1855 Mary married Joseph Bennett Aug 14th 1856
I found Susannah in 1861 living in Astley St RG9/2993/45/4 with daughter Ellen and Reuben, and who should be living next door, but Joseph with new wife Sarah and 4 children. Again Cheshire BMD shows the mother’s maiden name to be Britner. Joseph Wright Widower married Sarah Britner at St Mary’s Eccles May 14th 1850 and there is an image of this marriage on Ancestry with dad William. Further down the 1861 census page shows brother Nathan, also married with children. In 1871, RG10/3982/114/47 Joseph and Sarah have moved to Gorton Manchester. There is the addition of a son Enoch. 1881 is as you have found and for some reason Sarah and children are elsewhere. RG 11 4050/5/4, 33 Ashton St Dukinfield. I don’t know whether that should read Astley St as in 1891 Sarah is at 33 Astley St with Martha. There’s a death that fits for Joseph in 1889 aged 65. In 1891 Sarah is still at 33 Astley St with daughter Martha. There is a death that fits for Sarah in 1898 Ashton aged 75.
I think that’s it. Hope you enjoy reading and it makes sense. I’m going to Local Studies on Tuesday and will see if I can find anything that may help, so keep checking this Forum. Regards Lindy
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Post by Jill Wye on Mar 9, 2014 23:01:23 GMT
Wow!! Thank you so much Lindy-I'm humbled by your efficiency- and how much you've found out-makes me feel very inadequate- but I am very grateful- I might have got there in the end with your earlier leads, but it would have taken me a lot longer!!.I totally agree about the link being proved!Contacted Cheshire Archives and as I had thought they don't hold inquest records, but I'll go back to newspapers when I get a more definite date. I will do as you suggest and ring Dukinfield Register Office tomorrow- otherwise I had thought of applying for both with a covering letter -as suggested on Cheshire BMD to verify details. Let me know where to send a photo if you want a picture of the subject of your hard work!Thanks again Jill
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Post by jill wye on Mar 10, 2014 14:04:29 GMT
You're a genius Lindy. Rang the Registrars Office- very helpful. The death was registered 2x- the first, then again by the coroner! They checked for me and there was nothing extra on the first so just ordered 2nd. Very Excited- apparently has coroners detail on second too!Jill
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Post by lindylou on Mar 10, 2014 20:23:17 GMT
That's brilliant news Jill. If I've checked the Tameside Library records correctly the local paper wasn't published til 1855 so that scuppers my plans as I was hoping to read all the details. Hopefully it won't be too long before it arrives. I've been having a look at Henry Ross. Did you realise his wife died in the same year as him, leaving 2 children? Now that may be in the paper. I'll look and let you know.
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Post by Jill Wye on Mar 11, 2014 0:27:08 GMT
Interesting! I wonder if it was cholera? there seem to be a lot of it around about that time- and apparently medical men were obviously vulnerable. I might have to get that death certificate too!. I realised that some of the most local papers weren't published till later, but the Manchester Guardian is available online, from manchester library, and theres a couple of other area ones on Find my past - I was waiting to get an exact date- nothing about Rosss death that I've found in those tho! I'm wondering if he was a bit of a quack- checked Soc of Apothecaries and theres nothing for him mentioned there and only a scant mention in the 1847 Medical Directory, but apparently most doctors in the area were trained in Edinburgh, and I haven't found out how to check their training records yet.thanks Jill
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Post by lindylou on Mar 11, 2014 15:20:38 GMT
Well my visit to the library wasn't particularly successful. I looked for a burial for Elizabeth but couldn't find anything. She has to be buried somewhere so I'll widen my search. There was a burial notice for Henry Ross and his wife. Ashton Reporter March 28th 1857 On 24th inst at Dukinfield Mr H C Ross surgeon in his 41st year. Ashton Reporter November 7th 1857 On 30th inst Mary relict of the late H C Ross, surgeon of Dukinfield in her 37th year.
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Post by Jill Wye on Mar 12, 2014 10:24:07 GMT
Thanks anyway- its interesting to have those details. I wonder if Eliz may have been buried in a chapel somewhere as they Wright family were Wesleyans-I know from my own family that this was sometimes outside of the area they lived.I am going away for 10 days so will be out of contact for a bit- unless in the unlikely event the certificate arrives before I go!!Thanks Jill
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