burial mystery

[s.r.]

Hi ALL
          I have put this post up a few times now but hope now that there are new rootschatter who maybe able to help me.I am looking for where my husbands grandfather is buried i have looked everywhere in this area with no joy,name is Richard Rees died in neath workhouse due to illness only on 14th july 1913 aged 73 yrs born 1840.I have found his parents graves in aberdulais chaple graveyard but he is not with them his wife sarah died in 1912 & she is buried with two of there children in st samlet church llansamlet swansea,he is not with them according to the viacar at this church.I am at a loss now on where to look/ask.hope that there is someone out there that can help me find his resting place many thanks

                                                        s.r.

[CaroleW]

Links to previous posts

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,619507.msg4680774.html#msg4680774

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,599804.msg4494736.html#msg4494736

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,583320.msg4347718.html#msg4347718

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,577793.msg4297897.html#msg4297897

[petesdragon]

Hi SR,
I am having the same problem with a relative of mine that died in Wales 1911 (have death Cert) and have tried all sorts of avenues, I have in my possession a copy of a range of burials such as the Glamorgan list.
If you could provide me with some basic info I will have a look to see if your relies are listed

[Shirleyjjj]

hi s.r   I think that burials and headstones , which, for some reason we were never told where they were buried - is a problem - but there are people out there ( me included ) who are trying to help with sites and putting pictures on.

There are several things that have gone one in the past -and are still going on - some  burial grounds have been 'reclaimed ' by the  council and they have got rid of old gravestones and put a common 'memorial' somewhere else -

some old 'churches' the same thing and folks have been moved-


If he died in a workhouse he MAY have been buried in a common grave - but there will be a list of names so its not a lost cause - there are one or two websites free but its worth also asking your local council (may be able to throw you in the right direction)althought i expect youve already done most of this already by what you have said.

Its worthwile to carry on your search as i have similar problems with one of mine (read post)
if hes not buried with them you will  still probably be able to  have his name inscripted on the stone with his parents as a memorial so that your future generations will be able to see it - but it cost a bit more to have that done than it did in the old days as they have to have a stone mason to do it and they are a specialisted trade these days -

[cemetery friends]

A workhouse would have had an agreement with the parish or local council to bury in a common grave [often referred to as a pauper's grave]. By law names were not allowed to be inscribed on those graves. Exceptionally if the family had not been traced under the Anatomy Act 1832 the workhouse could sell the body for medical research. As you mention other relatives this course of action seems very unlikely. It is also possible that if the family were contacted on his death that they chose to bury him in a churchyard or cemetery of their choice but the fact that he obviously lived in poverty seems to rule out that option. You may find by searching cemetery records there are usually on the plans of plots a series of crosses indicating how many bodies were within the common grave [these would be over a series of years]. Sometimes they also entered initials of the deceased. You may find in the churchwarden accounts that the workhouse paid for a burial on a certain date which may link into your search.

[Shirleyjjj]

hi, all,

Ive actually found a workhouse grave in manchester which was a common paupers grave but the inters were actually listed on a grave seach site on a long list but not on the headstone itself -