Childrens deaths January 1836 - DUDLEY

[eric]

Looking into my familys history in Chelmarsh, Bridgenorth, Shropshire, I notice  three children of Richard Dudley 1782/3 and his wife Sarah Gower 1790/1 all died in January 1836, Joseph[1827] age nine years old died 18thJanuary, George[1830] age six years old died 21st January, and Francis[1833] age two years plus died on the 17th. January 1836. They appear to have had ten children, only three living into adulthood and only one of the children got married and had chldren of his own. the son Richard born 1822.
Has anyone any idea's why three children should all have died so close together in January 1836.
Any help would be greatlfully welcome. Eric.

[bearkat]

Have you looked at the parish register entries for their burials?  A vicar may have made a note of a particular tragedy.
Smallpox, diptheria, TB and diseases caused by unsafe water were common causes of death.
There could have been a fire at the family home.
Looking at a weather history site - the weather was not particularly severe.

Is there a local newspaper that goes back that far?

[bearkat]

This is an interesting website for seeing what diseases were around:-

http://www.bromsgrovebmsgh.co.uk/diseases_through_history.htm

Influenza was around in 1836.

[01debbie]

BearKat is spot on about infectious illnesses.  I have a family back around the same time period that had four children die over a two week period from Smallpox    & others in another line years later from Diptheria.  These things must have spread so quickly in the communities & with no medication & often very poor facilities & resources.

Thank heavens for antibiotics & modern medicine.

Debbie

[bearkat]

This site gives information about Shropshire:-

http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/roots/index.htm

If you click on the link to medical and health themes, then infection through time.
It's a schools site but has some interesting examples of records.

[eric]

Very many thanks for your prompt reply. Eric