What happened in 1880

[Roobarb]

I wasn't sure whether to post this on the Yorkshire board but here goes .....

There is a gravestone for some of my ancestors in the churchyard at Osmotherley in North Yorkshire which has four children buried with their grandparents. The children all died in August 1880. Does anyone know if there was any kind of epidemic at that time?
I have posted this on the Common Room board in case it wasn't restricted to that area. Any ideas please? 

[rbangorreg]

Hi Roobarb,
     I know there where a lot of mine desasters in Yorkshire in the 1880's involving young children, have a look at this site it may help?
     Reg

http://www.grimshaworigin.org/WebPages/MoorPit.htm


Moderator Comment: URL modified

[stanmapstone]

As you probably know whooping cough, measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, smallpox, typhus, typhoid, and tuberculosis were endemic in Victorian times. If a number of members of the same family all died at the same time from a disease, then it was usually due to the very poor living conditions, usually all the family living in one room. Infant mortality was quite high.
In the period 1874 to 1900 my grandfather and his three brothers, in
Sunderland, had 34 children, between them, of whom 21 died in infancy.

Stan

[Roobarb]

Thanks both.
The mining disaster site is very interesting Reg, and very sad too. The children concerned were too young though, they were aged 2, 5, 7 and 9.
I think the diseases you mention were probably more likely Stan. I would only find out by ordering the certificates. They are on the perimeter of my research so I don't really want to go to the expense but was interested all the same.
Thanks again