RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lincolnshire => Topic started by: Beard grandchild on Saturday 31 May 08 22:53 BST (UK)
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I am trying to find details about the death of Ehel May Snowden who was burnt to death in a fire in a garden shed in Owston Ferry in June 1934.
Would any details be on the death certificate, or would that just give the cause of death?
Where would I be most likely to find the information?
Cheers, Pat.
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would there be a local paper in that area that you could check the archives
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Hi Sue,
There is the Epworth Bells, but their archive material is held in a place called the Mechanics Instiute, in Epworth, and only has limited opening hours which don't fit in with my being able to get there during those hours. I have written to them previously to ask if they do paid searches, but have had no reply.
Cheers, Pat.
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I'm pretty sure that I've seen copies of the Epworth Bells on microfilm at Scunthorpe Library.
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Thanks Sasha,
I can try writing to the library and see if they do searches for people.
I live in Notts and am still in work, so my free time is limited to weekends, when these sort of places are usually shut.
I will look up the library address and give them a try,
Thanks again,
Pat.
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I've found an email address for the reference library at Scunthorpe.
http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/NorthLincs/Leisure/libraries/yourlocallibrary/centrallibrary/FirstFloor.htm
They're usually really helpful there, and seeing as you have a date there shouldn't be too much searching involved.
The library is open on a Saturday too and has a really good reference section - lots of local parish registers and the archived Scunthorpe newspapers are indexed (though I don't think the Epworth Bells is, unfortunately).
If you've got any ancestors in the Scunthorpe area the index to the Star newspapers is:
http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/NorthLincs/Leisure/libraries/familyhistory/Surnames/
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That's great, thanks Sasha.
You've given me plenty to work on there, so I'm sure that I will be able to find something out now. With those links I may be able to pick up other bits about my husband's family, who originate from that area.
RootsChat is full of people who seem to be able to answer most of my questions, and you have just answered another for me.
Thanks once again for your help,
Cheers, Pat.
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I had a look at the 1934 June / July copies of the Epworth Bells newspaper but couldn't find anything. :(
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There would probably have had to be an inquest so there may be some info in any available coroners report
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Thanks Rover and Carole,
This story was told to me by an Aunt of my husband's, and I have found the burial record of Ethel May Snowden, but have had no luck yet in substantiating the event.
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After an inquest, the coroner would have been the informant on the death certificate. The examples I've seen of death certificates issued after inquests have been mostly pretty detailed and informative as to the cause and circumstances of the death.
Anna
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Thanks Anna,
So if I can get a death certificate,I may find out more?
Rover 72 - I misled you with the date of death - As far as I now know, it was Sept 12th 1934, and not June.
Cheers, Pat.
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If you go to http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/NorthLincs/Leisure/libraries/ this puts you in touch with Scunthorpe Library and if you follow the links to family history the brilliant ladies in the research dep. will do a look up for you if you send in the online request form.
The first 30 minutes are free and as you have most of the details and dates it shouldn't take longer than that.
Good luck.
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Thanks Anne,
I have already picked up on a lot of family information from other sites suggested on this thread, and I will get round to following up on this line eventually.
The North lincs sites all seem to be very informative,more so than some of the other areas I have been searching in.
Thanks again for your help,
Cheers, Pat.
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Epworth Bells - Saturday September 15th 1934 - Page 2
FATAL BURNS
Owston Ferry woman dies in Infirmary
Mrs Ethel Mary Snowden, aged 28, wife of Mr James Snowden, died in the Doncaster Royal Infirmary on Wednesday night from toxaemia and shock following severe burns received while she was using a spirit stove at her home on Tuesday. A verdict of "Accidental death" was recorded at the inquest held at Doncaster on Thursday.
Theory of explosion
The theory was advanced that the woman had been priming a vapour stove with petrol and forgot to screw down the stopper over the hole through which the vessel was filled, so that when a light was applied there was an explosion which ignited the woman's clothing.
A neighbour Edward M Kent, a painter and decorator, said he found petrol near the stove and the container cap on the floor. He thought that the fact that this was off led to an explosion. He heard screams, but at first thought it was children playing, but a moment later Mrs Snowden rushed into his house in flames. He endeavoured to get a rug to throw over her but could not get it up and she rushed out again. He finally extinguished the flames with water.
The husband said they had latterly used petrol for the stove and they had never had any trouble with it.
The Doncaster Borough Coroner (Mr W. Bagshaw) said there was no direct evidence to show how the accident was caused. It must have been brought about by petrol from the stove.
The funeral takes place to-day (Saturday) at Owston Ferry churchyard. Mrs Snowden, whose maiden names was Ethel M Gleadle, was married in March 1933 at St Martin's Church. Much sympathy is felt in Owston Ferry and district for the bereaved husband and relatives.
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Hi Rover72,
Thanks for that very detailed information. The lady in question was half-sister to my husband's mother. In April we met the last surviving of her siblings, and knowing that I was doing family tree research, she told me the story as she remembered it.
Ethel's mother was the Mary Torn, widowed when the ferry capsised when hit by the Aegir on August Bank holiday Monday 1917. Alfred Torn, the ferryman, was Mary's second husband. It seems that this second tragedy completely traumatised her.
This report seems to refute the story of the fire being in the garden shed, which is the version that I was told, but as we all know these stories passed down by word of mouth do get altered over the years.
So, once again, thank you very much for your help.
Cheers, Pat.
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No problem, glad I was able to help.