Martha BACON, Leicester d.1873 (18months)

[earthmother]

My first grave hunt has turned up a stray that I hope someone can look after.

In Leicester (Welford Road) Cemetary, in what was a common, unmarked, grave, later bought by my family, there is a Martha Bacon, of The Friars, with a date of 31 Aug 1873, aged 18months.

[valg]

thats sad, there is s death entry

Name: Martha Bacon
Birth: abt 1872
Death: Sep 1873 - Leicester (1837-1974), Leicestershire

[bibliojunkie]

Not only is that sad but also interesting as The Friars is now the home of the University of Leicester’s Dept of Criminology.

Ali (U of L post grad alumna)

[earthmother]

I wonder if it was a poorhouse/hospital or something similar. The County Lunatic Asylum wasn't that far away (it's now the Student Union building), and there was a hospital on Regent Road, so there was a precedent in the area.

[bibliojunkie]

Hi earthmother. Sorry, I didn't see you were from Leics when I posted previously so you are probably closer to the scene than me. Although I've been to Leicester several times recently, it's been quite awhile since I was in the Uni area. The SU building was a c1960's building in my time as I recall. It was my understanding that the Upper/New Walk area was quite a classy area and, lined with large houses, was a promenade up to Victoria Park. A great grand uncle who came up in the world lived nearby.

Ali

[earthmother]

The SU is now (or at least was when I was there 15 years ago) the building on the corner of Mayors Walk and University Rd. I was always told that it was part of the old County Lunatic Asylum.

The immediate area was once a prosperous one, but you don't have to go far to come across rows of small 2up2down victorian terraces, so there were poorer areas nearby.

[bibliojunkie]

When I was a student in the 70's I lived in one of those two up two downs! Damp was a problem. We gave up on the wallpapering.

Ali

[tony vines]

I used to get off the bus in the early 1960s and walk up New Walk to Waterloo Road which ran parallel to the railway. New Walk itself still had a rather seedy grandeur in those days. However, on my first day at work as a 17 year old straight out of school I was slightly surprised to encounter on a January morning a women sauntering along Waterloo Road in her petticoat (as they were called at the time). My new male colleagues I met soon after explained the facts of life round there to me later! I'd never heard the phrase "red light district" before and couldn't quite understand why that particular phrase was used because there were no red lights. But of course I worked during the day!

I should add that my job had nothing whatsoever to do with immoral earnings. I was training to be an estate agent after all.:D

[bibliojunkie]

I took pity on little Martha and decided to put a £10 lottery win towards her birth and death certs. She was born on February 15, 1872 at James Street, Little Gonerby, Lincs to George and Elizabeth (nee Parker) Bacon. George was an iron founder’s labourer. She died on 26 August 1873 at 48 Alexander Street, Blackfriars, Leicester. Occupation: daughter of George Bacon - dyer. Cause of death: diarrhoea. An Emma Burrows was the informant and present at the death.

There is a marriage between a George Bacon and Elizabeth Parker registered at Grantham in QSept 1868. In 1851 a GB is living with his parents Edward and Ellen and three other children. Elizabeth is with her parents William and Elizabeth and five other children. In 1861 he may be the George Bacon who is a turner living as a lodger in Oakham, Rutland. I have not found Elizabeth for definite although she may be one of the EB’s listed as a servant but the pob’s do not match.

In the 1871 census there is this family living at 1 Brook Street, Manthorpe cum Little Gonerby:

Mary BACON Head (77) Shopkeeper (confectionery) b Grantham
George BACON Head (25) Iron founder’s labourer b Little Gonerby
Elizabeth BACON Wife (24) b Spittlegate (sic)
John BACON Son (2) b Little Gonerby
Henry BACON Son (9 months) b Grantham

Ref: RG/3359/67/6 courtesy TNA

I have found two John Thomas Bacon births in Grantham in QSept 1868 and QMar 1869. There is a death recorded in Leicester in QSept 1879 for a John Bacon aged 10. Henry Bacon’s birth was registered in QSept 1870 at Grantham. Sadly, this Henry appears to have died in the same quarter in 1871.

Having searched the later returns, I cannot find anyone for sure until 1911:

George BACON Head Widower (67) Iron turner b Spitalgate, Lincs
Annie SMITH Adopted dau Single (29) Housekeeper b The Wicker, Sheffield

A death for a George Bacon is registered in Gainsborough in 1931 aged 86. An Elizabeth Bacon died aged 67 in Lincoln in 1910.

Ali

[earthmother]

That is a sad tale, especially if the other children's deaths are right - to loose all three in childhood, and obviously not be able to bury them together must have been heartbreaking.

[bibliojunkie]

Yes, I must admit I had a little sigh when I was trawling for info. Perhaps George and Elizabeth had more children. There are certainly a few Bacon births in Leics and Lincs between 1873 and 1888 say. Finding the parents in 1881 would be a help!

Ali

[earthmother]

It would be nice to think that wasn't the end wouldn't it. I had a quick scout on Ancestry too, but can't find anyone who looks right.