Missing cause of death

[dubie33]

Can anyone help. I have a death certificate for Alfred Morgan age 33 who died in Cheltenham on 24/08/1840. Occupation given as Blind Manufactuer and informant a John Russell - on checking census, John Russell was a verger of the local church.It does not however say what the cuase of death was. Any suggestions as to why this should be?

Thank you

Eileen

[Peter Goodey]

In 1840 it was up to the informant to give a cause of death. Perhaps the informant said "Dunno mate. Just found him dead". There wasn't much else to be done in those circumstances. From 1875, I think it was, all deaths had to be certified by a doctor or coroner.