Author Topic: Spanish flu in Torbay  (Read 1996 times)

Offline PATc3

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Spanish flu in Torbay
« on: Monday 11 June 18 12:16 BST (UK) »
I am a member of the Torquay Library local history group. Our latest project is on the Spanish 'Flu epidemic starting in 1918. This project is in conjunction with health bodies and Torquay Museum.
 
We know about the loss of life to the 'flu amongst the American and ANZAC troops here in the Bay, but not so much about the everyday population. I am trying to look at a few local victims and to gather their stories to illustrate how it affected people.

Do you have anyone in your family tree who died from this 'flu and lived in Torquay or Paignton (Brixham are doing their own research) ? If so please let me know and if you are happy for us to do so we will include them in this work.
Thanks
Berry- Crediton, Woodbury, Ottery St Mary, Torquay
Payne -Torquay, Thatcham, Dawlish
Pedrick -Lustleigh, Drewsteignton Teign Valley
Voysey - Woodbury
Sanders - Woodbury Salterton,
Chudley -Devon
Johns -Bondleigh
Holmes -Exeter, Newton St Cyres
Keslake - Devon
Upham- Bicton & Mass. USA
Caseley -Devon
Hackett - Nenagh, Birr, Tipperary
Howell-Wexford, Wicklow
Prendergast -Wexford

Offline Mowsehowse

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Re: Spanish flu in Torbay
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 12 June 18 09:50 BST (UK) »
Expect you have seen this article Pat?

http://wearesouthdevon.com/1918-torbay-gets-the-flu/
BORCHARDT in Poland/Germany, BOSKOWITZ in Czechoslovakia, Hungary + Austria, BUSS in Baden, Germany + Switzerland, FEKETE in Hungary + Austria, GOTTHILF in Hammerstein + Berlin, GUBLER, GYSI, LABHARDT & RYCHNER in Switzerland, KONIG & KRONER in Germany, PLACZEK, WUNSCH & SILBERBERG in Poland.

Also: ROWSE in Brixham, Tenby, Hull & Ramsgate. Strongman, in Falmouth. Champion. Coke. Eame/s. Gibbons. Passmore. Pulsever. Sparkes in Brixham & Ramsgate. Toms in Cornwall. Waymoth. Wyatt.

Offline PATc3

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Re: Spanish flu in Torbay
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 12 June 18 14:48 BST (UK) »
Thanks very much, yes I have seen - it was written by one of our group  :).
Ta for taking the trouble though
Berry- Crediton, Woodbury, Ottery St Mary, Torquay
Payne -Torquay, Thatcham, Dawlish
Pedrick -Lustleigh, Drewsteignton Teign Valley
Voysey - Woodbury
Sanders - Woodbury Salterton,
Chudley -Devon
Johns -Bondleigh
Holmes -Exeter, Newton St Cyres
Keslake - Devon
Upham- Bicton & Mass. USA
Caseley -Devon
Hackett - Nenagh, Birr, Tipperary
Howell-Wexford, Wicklow
Prendergast -Wexford

Offline Miles Roland Henderson

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Re: Spanish flu in Torbay
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 13 September 18 22:24 BST (UK) »
Hello yes, I have family who died from Spanish Flu.

Basically, the story is this:

There were two brothers Thomas Henry Rodgers and Samuel Rodgers.

Thomas was married to Rosinia and had 5 daughters.  Samuel was married to Alice Mabel Davey (known as Mabel) and had 4 children.

On the 23rd November 1918, Samuel died from pneumonia and influenza at 35 Springfield Road, Torquay.  Leaving Mabel a widow with 4 children.

A month later on the 23rd December 1918, Rosinia died from pneumonia and influenza at Bethel Cottage, Ellacombe, Torquay.  Leaving Thomas a widower with 5 children.

Both widowed, Thomas and Mabel combined their families and had 5 more daughters.  3 of which, are still living, my Grandmother 97 and her two sisters 95 and 98, 99 next month.

I have death certificates for both.




Offline avm228

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Re: Spanish flu in Torbay
« Reply #4 on: Friday 14 September 18 00:33 BST (UK) »
How fascinating  :). Welcome to Rootschat, Miles.

Thomas and Rosinia Rodgers’ children were not all daughters though:

Hilda Rodgers, mother’s maiden name Churchward, Jun qtr 1906 Newton Abbot (died same qtr aged 0)
Leslie Thomas Edwin Rodgers, mother’s maiden name Churchward, Jun qtr 1907 Newton Abbot
Violet Rosinia Jessie Rodgers, mother’s maiden name Churchward, Sep qtr 1909 Newton Abbot
Grace Vera May Rodgers, mother’s maiden name Churchward, Jun qtr 1912 Newton Abbot
Frederick William Henry Rodgers, mother’s maiden name Churchward, Sep qtr 1915 Newton Abbot
Dorothy Constance Rodgers, mother’s maiden name Churchward, Jun qtr 1917 Newton Abbot
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)

Offline Miles Roland Henderson

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Re: Spanish flu in Torbay
« Reply #5 on: Friday 14 September 18 00:38 BST (UK) »
Hi yes I know, it was a mistype.

I have researched this family extensively.  Although, DNA discoveries have shown that Rodgers may not have been their actual surname.

The detailed tree is on Ancestry if you have access.

Out of interest would you any information about this family in the Museum records.

Offline avm228

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Re: Spanish flu in Torbay
« Reply #6 on: Friday 14 September 18 00:43 BST (UK) »
You may also know that it was not lawful for a man to marry his deceased brother’s wife until the coming into force of the Deceased Brother’s Widow’s Marriage Act 1921, which may explain why Thomas and Mabel did not marry until 1922 despite getting together earlier than that.
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)

Offline Miles Roland Henderson

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Re: Spanish flu in Torbay
« Reply #7 on: Friday 14 September 18 00:45 BST (UK) »
Yes, my Great Grandmother was disinherited as a result.  Her family were Builders / Masons called the Daveys who built a lot of houses around Plainmoor in Torquay.

Offline PATc3

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Re: Spanish flu in Torbay
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 19 September 18 15:01 BST (UK) »
Thanks for replies, I have passed them on to the person at Torquay museum who is setting up the exhibition - all information gratefully received.
The Fatal 'Flu exhibition will open at the museum on 18th October and run until Feb 2019.

No doubt there will be items in the media about it nearer the time.
Thanks again
Berry- Crediton, Woodbury, Ottery St Mary, Torquay
Payne -Torquay, Thatcham, Dawlish
Pedrick -Lustleigh, Drewsteignton Teign Valley
Voysey - Woodbury
Sanders - Woodbury Salterton,
Chudley -Devon
Johns -Bondleigh
Holmes -Exeter, Newton St Cyres
Keslake - Devon
Upham- Bicton & Mass. USA
Caseley -Devon
Hackett - Nenagh, Birr, Tipperary
Howell-Wexford, Wicklow
Prendergast -Wexford