'Licence to move corpse'

[Jocie]

I came across this entry while researching a Daniel Eastwood and wasn't really clear as to what it meant.
He died on 27 Feb 1918 aged 62 and wasn't buried until 13 April 1918 which seems a long time.
He was buried at St James Briercliffe Lancashire with the following note in the Register
 'This corpse was removed from Providence Chapel by licence'
I'm guessing this was the Wesleyan Methodist Providence Chapel.
Possibly there was no burial ground at Providence Chapel but this doesn't explain the delay.
Any ideas?
Jo

[stanmapstone]

Section 25 Burial Act 1857
 ..........it shall not be lawful to remove any Body, or the Remains of any Body, which may have been interred in any Place of Burial, without Licence under the Hand of One of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, and with such Precautions as such Secretary of State may prescribe as the Condition of such Licence;............

Stan

[Jocie]

Thanks Stan that makes sense.  It just seems strange to move him only 6 weeks after he was buried.

Jo

[KGarrad]

I came across this entry while researching a Daniel Eastwood and wasn't really clear as to what it meant.
He died on 27 Feb 1918 aged 62 and wasn't buried until 13 April 1918 which seems a long time.

Jo,

That's only 2 weeks - not a long tome in my mind!
(both my parents were interred more than 14 days after death)

Maybe, the graveyard was frozen, and they needed a thaw in order to dig a grave?
Or, maybe there was an inquest?

[stanmapstone]

The licence would be for an exhumation, as the act says "which may have been interred in any Place of Burial". Had he been buried in Providence Chapel, and for some reason his body moved to St James Briercliffe?

Stan

[Jocie]

Thanks Stan
Now I'm really curious as to why his body would have been exhumed after six weeks and reburied.
I know some branches of the family were very strict Methodists and there are many family members buried in Wheatley Lane Inghamite Chapel Cemetery.  However he was moved from a Wesleyan Methodist graveyard to a Church of England one.  As far as I can establish his wife (who survived him)
was CofE. The marriage is recorded as 'Register Office or Registrar Attended.' 
Thank you so much for your help
Jo

[stanmapstone]

It would be interesting to know the story behind this, but I suppose we will never know. Possibly a family disagreement 

Stan

[Jocie]

Thanks for your help Stan. I will try to track down a will just in case there is a clue in there. Should I ever find out the reason I will let you know.  It seems an extraordinary length and expense for a working class family to go to over a disagreement but I think you're right. 

Jo

[Ray T]

"EASTWOOD Daniel of 2 Gilbert-street Harle Syke Burnley died 27 February 1918 Probate Lancaster 16 May [1918] to Henry Cunliffe shoemaker. Effects £381 12s 9d."