Harry Douglas Thorp born Enfield, London died Saunton Devon but buried where ?.

[jibhauler14]

I have a Harry Douglas Thorp born 1901 in Enfield, Middlesex, living in 1960 in Oxford Road, Enfield, goes to Saunton in Devon on holiday has a heart attack and is taken to Barnstable Hospital where he is confirmed dead, death certificate issued 3rd September 1960 signed by his wife Daisy, place of death given as ‘Ashmead’ Saunton, Braunton, he was not returned to London so was buried in the area, the local Crematorium had not been constructed when he died, no record of him in Barnstable Cemetry, Braunton Parish Church has no record of him, looks as though he was returned to ‘Ashmead’ which has since been demolished due to subsidence but have failed to find his final resting place, he was a member of a Masonic lodge back in London so not particularly religious although his family had Methodist leanings, any help appreciated..
Jib

[rosie99]

Duplicate post
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=861441.

[CaroleW]

Is their son b 1938 still alive?  If so - is he able to provide any info?

Have you tried www.findagrave.com

[jibhauler14]

Yes the son is the last child surviving unfortunately he has no knowledge of the location apart from confirming the basic details, he gave the death date as the 1st Sept we obtained a copy of the death certificate which was issued by the coroner dated 3rd September 1960 and the death place as the bandb in Saunton, have checked North Devon Heritage and they have checked there records but cannot find burial location, have checked one church in Braunton but just found out that there are 2 other possible cemeteries in Braunton also St Ann’s opposite Saunton golf club and a church and cemetry in Georgeham….
Jib

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

This might be the Church that you have checked, but just in case

http://www.christchurchbraunton.co.uk/

https://devon-cat.swheritage.org.uk/records/2347D/13/7

It is Methodist.

Regards,
Daisy

[jibhauler14]

Yes thank you the heritage trust suggested this church but the church said no record, there are 2 other churches in Braunton with cemeteries I am told, Christ church and the Pentecostal which I think are now combined I have tried to contact them but no reply, quite frustrating the remaining family grandsons and a grand daughter are scattered across the US so difficult to check out the cemeteries, still will persevere the nearest to the death place is St Ann’s Chapel, then Croyde Baptist and then St George’s in Georgeham which seems to have a cemetry on Incledon Hill so will try to eliminate these and then look at the 2 cemeteries in Braunton, what a coincidence that Harry’s wife was also called Daisy…
Thank you again
Jib

[CaroleW]

Strange the son can’t provide burial details.  He wasn’t a child when his father died - he was 22 so presumably attended the funeral.  Daisy only died in 1981 so would have thought the subject of the burial would have been discussed at some point. 

It seems unlikely there was any headstone.  I don’t know what the family’s financial circumstances were at that time but is it possible he may be in a public grave?  As you have his date of death etc - perhaps the local records office may be able to help?

I know you say he was not returned to London - is that info from the son?  You mention him being a Masonic member - I wondered if they may have paid for him to be brought home

[jibhauler14]

The son can confirm where death occurred but not where buried, probate gave a reasonable sum to the widow so should not have been a shortage of pennies, daughter living in NYork at the time also confirmed buried in Devon but again had no idea where she unfortunately died 2 years ago, can now eliminate St George’s Georgetown no record, regarding the son he lives in the house where his parents lived but says he knows not where his Dad was buried and did not go to the funeral ? So will keep looking

[Old Bristolian]

Being pedantic, it's Barnstaple not Barnstable