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Author Topic: Apparent 'epidemics'  (Read 611 times)

Offline Andrew Tarr

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Apparent 'epidemics'
« on: Sunday 19 November 17 09:56 GMT (UK) »
While transcribing for Formby I came across this seemingly devastating surge in burials, at something like five times the normal rate.  From December 1728 to February 1729 each month filled a whole page in the register.  It seems the reason was a prolonged spell of cold weather following a poor harvest.  One wonders how the gravediggers kept up with demand, especially with the ground frozen hard?
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Online ShaunJ

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Re: Apparent 'epidemics'
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 19 November 17 11:33 GMT (UK) »
You have probably already seen this essay on the topic of "Socially selective mortality during the population crisis of 1727–1730: evidence from Lancashire"
http://www.localpopulationstudies.org.uk/PDF/LPS81/Art%203%20LPS81.pdf
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline sallyyorks

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Re: Apparent 'epidemics'
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 19 November 17 12:42 GMT (UK) »
This is known as 'Excess Burials'.

I noticed it in Lancashire and Yorkshire records for 1795/6, when there had previously been strange weather and then poor harvests
One of my ancestors died at this time and there are a high number of burials on the same pages in the register, with cause of death as  'decay', this cause was noted in all age groups.
rootschat topic about it here, with burial page info (May/June)
Topic: PRs England 1790s Bread Riots and Famine ?
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=678335.0
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