Completed Thanks

[Laurina]

I have a death certificate for Thomas Savage aged 52 that records the cause of death as 'Visitation of God'. The informant is the coroner. The death took place in Walkern on 27 May 1838.  Any ideas what this could be? Would it be news worthy and recorded in a local newspaper?  Which newspaper would cover Walkern?

Any suggestions.

Laurina

[ricky1]

Hi Laurina
Just by googling about found this bit of info

Visitation of God’. It was very common in the middle of the nineteenth century to attribute sudden unexplained deaths to this cause. It had no direct association with insanity. Visitation was invariably spelt with a capital V in due homage to the Almighty.

ricky

[Laurina]

Thanks Ricky,

I didn't think of doing that.  I wondered if he'd been struck by lightning or somethimg like that ~ silly me.

Laurina

[suzard]

Laurina,
You may not be far off the mark-I found the coroners inquiry into the death of one of my ancestors in 1890 (Derbys) (he was sheltering under a tree at a church fete , which was struck by lightning and he (and others) died). Coroners inquiry verdict " deceased died by Visitation of God, being killed by lightning and the death certificate states cause of death "Visitation of God"
"Hundreds came to collect tree bark as a souvenier of the occasion!!!!"

Suz

[Bitza 5]

it just goes to show how much religion played a part in the lifes of our ancestors now days im sure the death woud be simply recorded as DEATH CAUSED BY BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTINING?

   Bitz