Burial months after death?

[atth2o]

Hi Everyone,

Just a few questions about burials.  I have recently found two cases of children born and died in the first quarter of a year and then buried in December of that year.  These were different families.

Sources of births and deaths is the Free BMD.
Sources of burial is the KFHS CD #7.

Why would the burials be so late after the death?
Was this unusual?
Where was the body kept till the burial?

Thanks for looking at my enquiry,

Nancy

[avm228]

That does sound unusual and, frankly, rather alarming!

What dates are we talking about? Do you know anything about the deaths (e.g. unusual circumstances meriting an inquest)?

I've only ever seen a short delay (weeks at most) in the depths of winter (pre-20th century) when the ground was too frozen to dig a grave.  I've never seen an example of a delay of the length you mention or one extending through the summer months.

Anna

[atth2o]

Here's the details:

Free BMD:  Births Mar 1905, Twist  Gilbert    Faversham  2a 1006
Free BMD:  Deaths Mar 1905   Twist  Gilbert  0  Faversham  2a 627
__________________________
KFHS CD #7 - Faversham Burials:

396, 1905 01-Dec, TWIST Gilbert, 2 d, Faversham, C-179, Son of Henry R. and Effield E.
______________________________________________________________
Free BMD:  Births Jun 1923   Twist  Phyllis M  (Ellis)  Faversham  2a 1782
Free BMD:  Deaths Jun 1923   TWIST  Phyllis M  0  Faversham  2a 1012
__________________________
KFHS CD #7 - Faversham Burials:

3145, 1923 04-Dec, TWIST Phyllis Margaret, 13 d, Faversham, A-346, Dau. of Sydney J. and Bridget.
______________________________________________________________

Hope that helps.  By the way, Sydney is the son of Henry and Effield from the first entry.

Nancy

[Barbara F]

That is really strange Nancy. 

The ages at death do not tally either. Could there be 2 families with similar forenames? Or could someone have slipped up on the transcription?

Barbara

[avm228]

That is really strange Nancy. 

The ages at death do not tally either. Could there be 2 families with similar forenames? Or could someone have slipped up on the transcription?

Barbara

The ages at death (2 days and 13 days respectively) do seem to tally.

The whole thing is just bizarre   I can't think of any explanation.

Anna

[atth2o]

Hi Again,

That is why I am asking.  Seems really strange to me.  I can only hope that they were indeed buried sooner and possibly a ceremony took place on that date.  Grasping at straws though.

Nancy 

[Barbara F]

Sorry, I read the small "d" as meaning died rather than days!

Barbara

[Melagbe]

A bit late sorry

Could it be down to weather?

Although 40 years later, I know that someone died in Liverpool, I think it was 1964 a man died and it took 3 months before he could be buried because the ground was solid after snow, ice etc and grave diggers couldnt dig.
No electrical diggers in them days 

Maybe that was the reason then?

Mel

[atth2o]

Hi Mel,

That thought had crossed my mind but the deaths took place in the Spring and Summer months and the burials in December.

It would be interesting if someone had access to the actual burial archives and could look at the details.

One other thought is that the dates have been mixed up from numbers to words:

1905 01-Dec, TWIST Gilbert  (Possibly January 12, 1905)
1923 04-Dec, TWIST Phyllis Margaret  (Possibly April 12, 1923)

This would make the Death Registrations work.  If that is the case, how much of the CD is incorrect?   

Nancy