double burials in Devon

[elizabeth63]

While transcribing Marwood Church burial records (for a graveyard plan project) I came across 5 instances of 'double burials'.
At least one of these included a baptised child (Reverend's son from an adjoining parish) The burial entries are written within the numbered burial record and the burial dates are mainly within 2 weeks of the original. Any clues?

[cemetery friends]

It is fairly common for a baby to be added to a newly created grave, the vicar seeing that a young family would not have the ability to buy a grave would approach the family of the deceased parishioner to ask if the baby's remains could be added [but if there was a headstone erected later there would be no mention of the baby]. In other cases a baby would be similarly added to say the grave of grand parents or near relative [although in the latter example sometimes the name of the baby would be shown on a headstone]. When there are a few close together in time it suggests diphtheria or some other disease ran through the village.

[elizabeth63]

Thank you for a response. However this situation is more mysterious than normal! In one case John Mervin Cutcliffe DRAKE was born at Heanton Punchardon and baptised by his father Zacchary Hammett Drake at Heanton on 13 September 1831.On 9 September he was buried into the grave of Mary Parkin nee Wybron wife of Thomas Parkin at Marwood (St Michael's and All Angels)Church. Mary had been buried on 9 September. The Drakes were an influential and wealthy family throughout Devon, so cost was not an isssue. There were no burials since January 1831 until 19 September 1831 at Heanton. So the issue is why not bury him at Heanton? Another son was born in 1833 with the same name who went on to be a famous and decorated soldier. The other cases are still being investigated but included a seemingly unrelated double burial involving 2 persons from 2 other parishes-i.e not Marwood and signed by the Marwood rector and the rector of an adjoining parish (Bittadon) Any further suggestions gratefully received!