Cause of death prior to 1800

[ozzieGenes]

Hello,
I have searched for similar posts but can not find one so I apologise if it exists.

I have a relative, Jonathan Southwell, who married Rebecca Arter in 1792. In 1792 it looks like they had a son, Joseph. In 1795 Rebecca passed away so Jonathan then married Martha White in 1807.

I would love to know the cause of death of Rebecca but I can not find that information anywhere and being the 18th century I am not optimistic that decent records would be kept.

She was born, married and died in East Wellow, Hampshire.

My question is: is there somewhere I can search for details about cause of death for someone who died in the 18th century?

Thank you for any help you can give

Kyle

[nanny jan]

Hi,

If you can find her burial in the Parish register it might give the cause of death; sometimes it was noted if it was something unusual.


Nanny Jan

[Little Nell]

The most obvious thing that springs to mind is that she died in childbirth and perhaps her child as well. 

Some vicars or curates do record a cause of death - like smallpox for example.  That was certainly around in the 1780s in rural Hampshire.

Nell

[ozzieGenes]

thank you both. I have tried to search on the Parish record online with no luck so I will perhaps see if they have put it on microfilm and maybe I can get access at my state library.
Thanks again.

[sallyyorks]

What month was the 1795 burial?

Not saying this is a definate reason, but there was a food shortage and high wheat/flour prices in 1795. A lack of proper  nutrition would have made people more susceptible to disease.


http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405184649_chunk_g9781405184649250
"In 1795, wheat yields were extremely low as an unfortunate alignment of bad weather and war brought Britain to the brink of famine. The previous year witnessed a poor harvest due to a hot, dry summer and the winter of 1794–5 was extremely cold, affecting crop production.."

Example of one of the many bread riots that year
http://www.brh.org.uk/site/articles/the-tewkesbury-bread-riot-of-1795/

Some more info here
http://www.breviarystuff.org.uk/roger-wells-wretched-faces/

[ozzieGenes]

Thanks Sallyyorks. If I can not find anything concrete then this sounds like a "here's what could have happened" story. Thanks so much.