Why did they die? Queries about 2 Lincolnshire death certificates of 1844 & 1856

[ARBELLA]

Many thanks to Rootschat experts for invaluable past help with my Lincolnshire village research! Can you advise, please, on 2 death certificates linked to a very interesting villager, Mary Ann Blow?

First, her mother, Ann Blow, ‘Labourer’s’ wife, sadly died in 1844, at Kirton Lindsey, aged 34. The death info. was supplied by the coroner – presumably after an inquest. Cause of death: ‘Natural Death’. I realise we can’t pinpoint the exact cause of Ann’s death. But can we exclude any causes? Would an inquest be called if she died in childbirth? (I’m particularly interested in this.) Or after long illness? Are there other causes of death which would NOT lead to an inquest on Ann in 1844, please?

Secondly, in 1856, Mary Ann Blow registered the death of her son George, who had died that day, at Willoughton, aged 3½. As he was illegitimate, I believe the entry in the column for‘Occupation’ would normally be ‘Son of Mary Ann Blow’. But these words appear in the ‘Cause of Death’ column, with no cause given. (The ‘Occupation’ column is blank.) I believe that deaths in 1856 did not legally need to be medically ‘Certified’. Have you seen other 1850s certificates with no entry for cause of death? This Registrar, Robert Eminson, was a doctor. My guess is that Mary Ann gave him a satisfactory reason for George’s death – no inquest required – which Dr Eminson forgot to write down. But I would very much welcome your informed views! Many thanks.

[wivenhoe]

"Ann Blow, ‘Labourer’s’ wife, sadly died in 1844, at Kirton Lindsey, aged 34"

Any clues in the dates?.  What dates for the death...the inquest....the registration of the death.

[AntonyMMM]

If the coroner was the informant on the 1844 death then there should have been an inquest, although an inquest at that time could be a very quick and cursory event.

Inquests are primarily concerned with the circumstances of death, not just the cause, so it suggests that the death was unexplained in some way - maybe she was just found collapsed and hadn't been ill and no-one could say what happened, other than the coroner deciding it was natural causes, of some sort.

A death in childbirth wouldn't usually require an inquest ( although it could and a coroner has the power to investigate ANY death that occurs in their area), but if that was the case I'd expect it to be mentioned.

In the 1856 example, it wouldn't be for the registrar to determine the cause - it would be recorded as whatever the informant gave and if there was no medical involvement then you do occasionally see the cause left blank.  I suspect many of the causes like " visitation of God" that sometimes get recorded are for cases like this when nobody could give anything else. If the registrar was in doubt about the circumstances, they could always refer the case to the coroner.

The requirement for the cause of death to be certified was included in the 1874 B&D Act, but even then it was only required where the person  "had been attended during his last illness by a registered medical practitioner" ....so even after 1874 you occasionally get registrations with the cause left blank or "unknown"

[bbart]

Arbella, did this Mary Ann Blow end up with a Thomas Burrill/Borrill? 

(I'm asking because if I am tracking the wrong person, no point in typing out a big reply!)

[ARBELLA]

"Ann Blow, ‘Labourer’s’ wife, sadly died in 1844, at Kirton Lindsey, aged 34"

Any clues in the dates?.  What dates for the death...the inquest....the registration of the death.

Apologies for not attaching the full document! I have now tried to reduce it, and apologies again if it's not readable... The only two dates given on the death certificate for Ann Blow are the date of death, 3rd September 1844, and the date of the registration, 19 September 1844. There is no date for the inquest, but the Coroner's name is given on the certificate. Many thanks for your time.

[ARBELLA]

If the coroner was the informant on the 1844 death then there should have been an inquest, although an inquest at that time could be a very quick and cursory event.

Inquests are primarily concerned with the circumstances of death, not just the cause, so it suggests that the death was unexplained in some way - maybe she was just found collapsed and hadn't been ill and no-one could say what happened, other than the coroner deciding it was natural causes, of some sort.

A death in childbirth wouldn't usually require an inquest ( although it could and a coroner has the power to investigate ANY death that occurs in their area), but if that was the case I'd expect it to be mentioned.

In the 1856 example, it wouldn't be for the registrar to determine the cause - it would be recorded as whatever the informant gave and if there was no medical involvement then you do occasionally see the cause left blank.  I suspect many of the causes like " visitation of God" that sometimes get recorded are for cases like this when nobody could give anything else. If the registrar was in doubt about the circumstances, they could always refer the case to the coroner.

The requirement for the cause of death to be certified was included in the 1874 B&D Act, but even then it was only required where the person  "had been attended during his last illness by a registered medical practitioner" ....so even after 1874 you occasionally get registrations with the cause left blank or "unknown"

Thank you very much! This is exactly the information I was looking for, and I am very glad to have it. Due to lack of experience and knowledge, I would never have discovered it alone. I have built up a substantial collection of Victorian death certificates, not least because they reveal so much about the lives of the villagers I am researching.  But I am increasingly aware of the gaps in my knowledge, both medical and legal, which the information publicly available on the Internet cannot fill. I am very grateful for your time!

[ARBELLA]

Arbella, did this Mary Ann Blow end up with a Thomas Burrill/Borrill? 

(I'm asking because if I am tracking the wrong person, no point in typing out a big reply!)

Thank you very much for getting in touch! This Mary Ann Blow (baptised in 1834) did indeed become involved with Thomas Burrill/Borrill. I am very interested in building up a picture of her life (one which is sympathetic but fair to all parties).
   Understanding the motives and emotions of people from the past - even slightly - may be almost impossible if we simply have facts from Censuses etc (without any letters, diaries, or family memories handed down to descendants). I think this may prove a lasting problem with researching Mary Ann!
   But I feel the least I can do is to gather as much recorded information about her as possible. I have begun to do this, but I would be extremely keen to know any information you would be happy to give me. Entirely at your convenience, of course. I would be very glad of information at any time. Many thanks!

[giblet]

Not sure if you have seen this or if it is of any interest.

Date: Friday,  Apr. 8, 1853
Publication: Stamford Mercury (Stamford, England)
Volume: 158 , Issue: 8242

Mary Ann Blow of Grayingham, singlewoman, applied for an order on Thos. Borrill, of Willoughton, to support a bastard child. Order made for 2s per week from birth, and costs.

There appears to be a better article in another paper which im only able to get the index up.

Published: Friday 08 April 1853
Newspaper: Lincolnshire Chronicle
County: Lincolnshire, England

[bbart]

Giblet has already posted about part of my following notes, but am posting the whole lot anyways!

The surname for Thomas varies wildly, Borwell, Burrill, Borrill, etc.   I have written it in the following timeline as it appears on the image/index.  You probably have most of this, but I am posting all my notes just in case! I didn't include Mary Ann's early life, as I assume you have all that from researching her mother Ann.

1851 census, Mary Ann Blow (16) servant to Thomas (55) and Ann (48) Borwell in Willoughton, Lincolnshire.

1853 Quarter 1, birth of George Blow registered in Gainsbro, no mmn.

The Lincolnshire Chronicle  08 April 1853
Mary Ann Blow, 15 years of age, of Grayingham, applied for an order on Thos. Borrill, of Willoughton, to support a bastard child.  Defendant appeared in person, and also by Mr. Plaskin, his solicitor:  an order was made for 2s. per week from the birth and costs.

(Note for above article): other newspapers running the same snip did not put an age for Mary Ann;  her age of 15 is incorrect, so a mistype or the reporter had bad info?)

The Lincolnshire Chronicle  15 December 1854
Singular Death
On the 5th inst., an inquest was held at Willoughton, before C. H. Holgate, upon the body of Ann Borrill, the wife of Thomas Borrill, labourer, aged 52 years. Deceased was subject to fits, and had a girl of the name of Mary Blow to watch and attend upon her.  On the previous day, there was a marriage at the church, to which Mary Blow went, leaving deceased sitting in her arm chair near the fire.  After Mary Blow had gone, a travelling woman called at deceased's house, when she saw her laying upon the floor in front of the fire; she gave an alarm, and when Mary Herrick went into the house, she found deceased laid in front of the fire and her clothes on fire, and face embedded in paste, she having upset a pancheon of paste when she fell out of her chair.  The fire had not reached her person, but her mouth and nose were filled with the paste.  The jury were of opinion that deceased had fallen out of her chair in a fit, and by upsetting the pancheon of paste was suffocated.  Verdict accordingly.

1856 3rd Quarter, death of George Blow registered.

1860 1st quarter, registration of birth for Mary Ann Borrell in Louth, no mmn
1860 1st quarter, marriage of Mary Ann Blow and Thomas Burill, Gainsbro'

1861 census - Willoughton
Thomas Borrell (65), Mary Ann (26) and daughter Mary Ann (1)

1871 census  Willoughton (daughter is now surname Blow and Thomas and Mary are "Barrell")
Thomas (75), wife Mary (36), daughter Mary A Blow (11)

1875 2nd Quarter, death registration for a 79yo Thomas Borrill, Gainsbro'

1881 census - Willoughton
Widow Mary A Borrell (45, but something is written over 45), a charwoman, with a lodger Isaac Thompson (66)

1891 census - Willoughton
Maryann Borrill (transcribed at Anc as Bouill), head, no occ. and  lodger Isaac Thompson (76) still there.

1892 2nd Quarter, death registration for Isaac Thompson, age 76, Gainsbro'

1901 Ashby, Lincolnshire
66 yr old Mary A Borrill , born Kirton, visiting household of James L. Thompson (46)
(James L Thompson was the son of Isaac Thompson)

1910 2nd Quarter- there is a death registration for a Mary Ann Borrill, age 75 in Gainsbro'

I am curious as to what happened to the daughter, Mary Ann Blow/Burrill, born 1860, but there are far too many marriages/deaths that could fit either surname.
As for the death of Thomas' wife Ann in 1854...... all I can say it is unfortunate that there wasn't the forensic tools that we have today.  The verdict could have been much different!