paupers burial

[tezzer]

Does any body know what a paupers burial would have consisted of in the mid to late 1800s??. would there have been a service or some words read by a member of the clergy. would any relatives have been present. would relatives of others buried in the same grave have been present too?? would they have all been buried together at the same time?

[CaroleW]

If the whole funeral was paid for by the local authority (ie) coffin, undertaker, transportation etc then it was a paupers burial.  If only the grave was provided - then it was a public burial.

Many families could not afford the cost of a private grave but could manage the other expenses

In either case - there would have been a church official present of the appropriate denomination and if the deceased had family, then they would have been present

would relatives of others buried in the same grave have been present too??

In public graves, coffins were buried in layers, so as each coffin was placed - it was covered with earth.  It would be logical at that point for the mourners at that funeral to leave and be replaced by those for the next burial.

A public grave held a number of bodies and the grave was only finally filled in when the agreed number was reached.

You can read about it on this thread

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=383351.0

[Guy Etchells]

There seems to be some confusion over burials in public graves.
A public grave is not normally left open until full, like other grave plots after each burial the grave is backfilled until the plot is required again.
Though it must be said that in busy cemeteries of cities there may be some occasions where a public grave is not backfilled before the next funeral.

In reality there is no such thing as a pauper burial, as the term really applies to who pays the costs, authorities or "family".

There are different type of grave plot however.
In many cemeteries there are at least three classes.
private 1st, private 2nd and public graves, public graves could also be charged at different prices.
For example there could be a rating based on the ratable value of the house the deceased lived in during life. Under £5 RV costing 4s 6d under £10 RV costing 6s 6d all others 10s 6d.

Most public graves were prohibited from having tombstones erected but for some this was allowed.

In some cemeteries public graves were indiscriminately scatted between private plots, this allowed the cemetery to tightly pack plots in whilst giving the appearance of a spacious cemetery.
Cheers
Guy

[tezzer]

My thanks to Guy and Carole.....I have a number of traced burials from the later 1800s at St Pancras and Islington Cemetery in East Finchley, but they are all what the burial records call pauper burials. It mentions there would have been more than one person in the grave but the list and dates suggest it would have all been within one day. The one I'm looking at now say 6 where buried with in the grave all on the same day. I know most of my ancestors where probably not well off enough to buy an individual plot but I did wonder weather they would of had an individual service ...You both seemed to have covered that with your answers. Would that type of burial include a procession in a hearse or would the body and coffin have been taken to the cemetery for them on its own   

[Guy Etchells]

St Pancras and Islington Cemetery has the largest number of burials in the UK though it is not the biggest cemetery according to area covered.

It is difficult to give any precise details for individual burials as each would depend on circumstances for example where the person died (at home or in a workhouse).
It is highly possible friends or relatives would follow behind the hearse to the cemetery when proceeding from home but less likely from a workhouse.
There is also a possibility that a parish coffin was used.
A parish coffin is a reusable coffin in which the body is transported to the graveside then removed and lowered into the grave, allowing the coffin to be returned to where it is stored.
Some parish coffins had hinged floor boards allowing the coffin to be positioned over the grave to allow the body to be dropped into the grave.
Some ecological cemeteries and crematoriums use similar coffins today with cardboard inner coffins.

It should also be noted St Pancras is one of the few cemeteries which does not allow photos to be taken without formal permission being granted.
Cheers
Guy

[tezzer]

Thanks guy.....12 of the burials where from one family , all children in there first few years it must have been very depressing having to go through that so many times.
                                     tezzer