Looking for a grave - Reading 1931

[philipsearching]

If he died whilst in the care of the authorities, I would venture to suggest he is most probably in a common grave without a headstone

Generally, I would agree - but in this case he had a supportive and quite affluent family (two of his brothers were very successful consulting mining engineers) so I am hopeful that his family may have provided a gravestone.

Philip

[dawnsh]

His death made the national press, the Western Daily Express Bristol reported it on the 9th September

[philipsearching]

His death made the national press, the Western Daily Express Bristol reported it on the 9th September

Well, if you kill a well-known chess player, you must expect a certain amount of notoriety!

I have about 20 pages of research on Joseph James - his life, his family, his trial and sentencing at Lewes Assizes and his life in Broadmoor.  One day I'll get round to writing it up.  Sadly, Joseph had at least six relatives (including his mother) who died in asylums.

I've now e-mailed the link Jebber gave and am hoping for a reply about a grave.

Philip

[philipsearching]

I got a very quick response to my e-mail  (thanks again for the link, Jebber)

Joseph James bur 1931, Alice Eleanor James (his wife) bur 1940 London Road Cemetery, Division 38, grave 7374.

The very kind man at Reading Crem & Cem also sent me a map!

Does any kind Rootschatter with a camera live near Reading and would be willing to see if there is a gravestone?

(OK, I'm pushing my luck here!)

Philip

(ps - the thumping and creaking sound you can hear is me - a happy bunny hopping arthritically around the room) 

[Jebber]

Glad the link paid off Philip,  I have had similar success myself in the past by contacting a local authority, it was just a matter of a Google search to find the appropriate contact details for the town you are interested in.

Jebber
Still coughing and sneezing 🤧

[HarryW]

I got a very quick response to my e-mail  (thanks again for the link, Jebber)

Joseph James bur 1931, Alice Eleanor James (his wife) bur 1940 London Road Cemetery, Division 38, grave 7374.

The very kind man at Reading Crem & Cem also sent me a map!

Does any kind Rootschatter with a camera live near Reading and would be willing to see if there is a gravestone?

(OK, I'm pushing my luck here!)

Philip

(ps - the thumping and creaking sound you can hear is me - a happy bunny hopping arthritically around the room) 

Philip,

You may get lucky with someone being able to find the plot and even a gravestone, but from bitter experience; The old Reading cemetery is in a pretty poor state.   My wife and I spent many hours trying to find a couple of plots with absolutely no luck, let alone finding gravestones.   The cemetery has suffered many years of neglect and vandalism.   Some gravestones were removed by the council and placed around the edges of the site as they were deemed dangerous

Harry

[philipsearching]

Philip,
You may get lucky with someone being able to find the plot and even a gravestone, but from bitter experience; The old Reading cemetery is in a pretty poor state.   My wife and I spent many hours trying to find a couple of plots with absolutely no luck, let alone finding gravestones.   The cemetery has suffered many years of neglect and vandalism.   Some gravestones were removed by the council and placed around the edges of the site as they were deemed dangerous

Harry

Many thanks for your reply, Harry (great name - my dearly loved grandfather was Harry W).

I passed the grave details on to my cousins (one of whom is the granddaughter of the two people in the grave) and one of us might find a way to visit Reading Cemetery one day.

Philip

[dawnsh]

There seems to be an active volunteer photographer at Find-A-Grave

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2282419/reading-old-cemetery

some of the photos were uploaded as recently as August this year.

Might be worthwhile registering with the site, upload the names, dates and plot details you have a post a photo request.

[philipsearching]

There seems to be an active volunteer photographer at Find-A-Grave

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2282419/reading-old-cemetery

some of the photos were uploaded as recently as August this year.

Might be worthwhile registering with the site, upload the names, dates and plot details you have a post a photo request.

That is a brilliant suggestion, dawnsh.  I've done it, now I keep my fingers crossed.

Philip