Benwell Cemetery

[Tickettyboo]

I have a parish death/funeral register entry from St George RC Church, Bell's Close 1912 for a wee one, Joseph Willey, who was born and died too soon (only 2 days old).

I think the cemetery he was buried in says 'Benwell' ?


Any ideas? I can't seem to find anything billed as Benwell Cemetery, maybe Elswick?

Boo

[River Tyne Lass]

Yes, to me it does say Benwell.

I think this would have been at St James Church, Benwell. 

I know this is not a Catholic Church but I wonder if they might have accepted Catholuc burials?  I once did a look up for Benwell Cemetery according to newspaper.  Two other researchers told me this would be St James Church and it was.  Only Tyne and Wear Archives hold the St James burials.

If you would like me to check, I could pop along when I get my next rota and can fit in a date?

[JenB]

I agree with RTL, probably he was buried at St James Benwell.

[Tickettyboo]

Would they have buried a Catholic at St James? (I think that was Anglican?)

If so, I assume its unlikely that I will find an actual burial record as it wouldn't be included in what I assume are the anglican parish burial registers?

<this family keeps confusing me!>

Boo

[Tickettyboo]

Yes, to me it does say Benwell.

I think this would have been at St James Church, Benwell. 

I know this is not a Catholic Church but I wonder if they might have accepted Catholuc burials?  I once did a look up for Benwell Cemetery according to newspaper.  Two other researchers told me this would be St James Church and it was.  Only Tyne and Wear Archives hold the St James burials.

If you would like me to check, I could pop along when I get my next rota and can fit in a date?

Not vital RTL, but if you are going there at any stage and have time to have a quick look, I'd be interested. No hurry. I was pleased to at least get his funeral record, the year before that the family were in Birtley and he was born in Scotswood, took me a while to suss it all out but I did manage to find his Dad on the electoral registers in 1913 at Shafto Street, Scotswood. I was hoping that a burial register would confirm the address, which may well have been the case in a civil cemetery, but not as likely in a parish register.

Boo

[JenB]

Would they have buried a Catholic at St James? (I think that was Anglican?)

Yes, it could have happened.

Take a look here https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=493821.msg3517536#msg3517536

From wikipedia:
the Llanfrothen burial case; this established the right of Nonconformists to be buried according to their own denominational rites in parish burial grounds, a right given by the Burial Laws Amendment Act 1880 that had up to then been ignored by the Anglican clergy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lloyd_George

[Tickettyboo]

Thanks JenB. 
I thought that a civil cemetery would have been the most likely, but looks like there's a good chance that I assumed incorrectly.


Boo

[River Tyne Lass]

https://www.informationnow.org.uk/organisation/st-james-church-benwell-lane/

I know it does seem unusual that a Catholic would be buried in an Anglican Cemetery but as record does say Benwell I suspect this is where he will be - rather than Elswick.

Why not contact them by email and ask if this might have been the case? 

I know someone who contacted them who said they were very helpful.  I will check for you at the archives but you never know they might give you the answer faster than I can. .

Not to worry though, once I have new rota I think I should be able go to archives and find out where he is.

[JenB]

I know it does seem unusual that a Catholic would be buried in an Anglican Cemetery but as record does say Benwell I suspect this is where he will be - rather than Elswick.

Why not contact them by email and ask if this might have been the case? 

Hi RTL  in law there was no reason why he should not have been buried at Benwell. A Roman Catholic interment in an Anglican burial ground would be covered by the Burial Laws Amendment Act of 1880, as clarified by Lloyd George in the Llanfrothen Burial case (see my reply #5)

The link I posted explains the situation applying from 1880 onwards.

It might possibly be the case that, if he was buried at Benwell, his name might not appear on the register, as the funeral mass took place at Bell's Close 

If his name doesn't appear on the Benwell register it would be worth checking if it appears on the Elswick register. If its not on that either then it might be a reasonable assumption to make that he is at Benwell after all.