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The Common Room / Infant death?
« on: Saturday 23 July 11 22:52 BST (UK) »
I recently found a brother of my Nan's that no-one knew existed. Harry Chance was born in Droitwich, Worcs on 17 August 1915, the birth eventually being registered on 11 November that year. Parents Arthur Henry and Nelly Chance.
No problem so far. As I said no-one knew who he was. My Nan never mentioned him to any of her family - she was born 18 months after him. I therefore assumed that he died in infancy but there is no death certificate for him. I've looked under as many variations of 'Harry' and 'Chance' that I can think of on Free BMD and tried wider searches on just the christian name to see what that threw out. I've been to the History Centre in Worcester today and couldn't find either a baptism or burial for him. HIs siblings were all baptised within 6 weeks of birth.
My working hypothesis is that he was stillborn and therefore couldn't be baptised or buried in consecrated ground. However his mother wanted to acknowledge his existence and eventually registered his birth. Is this possible or does anyone have any other possible explanations?
Grateful for any opinions/advice
Andy
No problem so far. As I said no-one knew who he was. My Nan never mentioned him to any of her family - she was born 18 months after him. I therefore assumed that he died in infancy but there is no death certificate for him. I've looked under as many variations of 'Harry' and 'Chance' that I can think of on Free BMD and tried wider searches on just the christian name to see what that threw out. I've been to the History Centre in Worcester today and couldn't find either a baptism or burial for him. HIs siblings were all baptised within 6 weeks of birth.
My working hypothesis is that he was stillborn and therefore couldn't be baptised or buried in consecrated ground. However his mother wanted to acknowledge his existence and eventually registered his birth. Is this possible or does anyone have any other possible explanations?
Grateful for any opinions/advice
Andy