on burial records, does "son of" imply the deceased was a child?

[nicholastolson]

On 17 September 1804 there's a burial in All Saints, Dewsbury, for "James Tolson, son of Richard". Can I assume, from this wording, that James was a child?

Some trees show this James as the James Tolson who had married Priscilla Richardson. Am I right to discard this possibility, given the identification as "son of Richard"?

[macwil]

On 17 September 1804 there's a burial in All Saints, Dewsbury, for "James Tolson, son of Richard". Can I assume, from this wording, that James was a child?

Personally I wouldn't automatically assume that. If his father had siblings they may have named one of their sons James as well if they followed the practice of naming a son after their father and the vicar would distinguish them by adding the father's name, even when they were adults.

Some trees show this James as the James Tolson who had married Priscilla Richardson. Am I right to discard this possibility, given the identification as "son of Richard"?

I would be more inclined to dismiss the marriage as I would have expected the phrase 'Husband/Widower of <name of wife>' but the vicar may have been particularly patriarchal in his outlook and entered the father's name as a matter of course. However I wouldn't entirely rule it out.
Have a look at other entries and see what the general style of entry was.

Data from on-line trees should be treated with extreme caution especially if there are no documents quoted to back it up. Even then that documentary evidence needs to be examined very carefully.

I would look for a Baptism of 'James, son of Richard Tolson (and <name of mother>)' and a Marriage entry. If he was married the Baptism could be 18/20yrs earlier and maybe even more.
Even if you do find a marriage it may not be the same James Tolson. (see comment above about naming sons.)
Parish Records at this time are notoriously erratic in the details they give concerning marriages, some will simply say 'James Tolson married.' not even mentioning the bride, others will name both parties and their fathers and some will include the mothers' names as well if you are very lucky.

I wish you the best of luck in your efforts to solve the conundrum.

[BumbleB]

This was within the era of Dade Registers and the majority of the burial entries in this parish indicate son or daughter of, widow of, wife of ... and some just the forename and surname (which I take to be the head of household).  As such there is no indication whether the burial is for a young child or just an unmarried son or daughter.

[dobfarm]

Possible scenario.

Depending on the year of the marriage, putting marriage James  (as said first reply) around 18 years or older or more at marriage and needed to be baptized 18 years before or earlier. Thus it could be father Richard had a son James who died as an infant, then had another boy (who lived to be an adult) who he baptized as James 18 years or more before the marriage year.

[J.R.Ellam]

Hi

It could be if he married & died young he could have been buried in the family plot so they might have put fathers name down.
Dewsbury graveyard all but gone but could try and find out if their was a headstone.

John

[macwil]

Possible scenario.

Depending on the year of the marriage, putting marriage James  (as said first reply) around 18 years or older or more at marriage and needed to be baptized 18 years before or earlier. Thus it could be father Richard had a son James who died as an infant, then had another boy (who lived to be an adult) who he baptized as James 18 years or more before the marriage year.

My bold emphasis

Good point!  That is one possibility that I forgot about.

[dobfarm]

Another point or scenario John raised - James could have married aged 18, then died aged 19 or 20 after marriage, being under age of 21 - Then he would have had 'James as son of Richard' in a burial record.

[macwil]

This thread now needs to be read in conjunction with this one:-
on baptismal records, was father's name shown if he was deceased?

[ele002]

A slightly late reply on this one but generally I take it to mean it was a child, but I think it may well depend on the church/vicar in a few cases.

I have ancestors buried at St Margaret in Prestwich, Lancs. and I noticed on several pages, burials of adults, shown as son of....

One page, in 1881, has 3 men aged 72, 25 & 57 and another has 2 aged 21 & 27, to name a few. There are many more. Maybe they were unmarried or widowed at death.


Eric.