Kensington Infirmary (attached to Workhouse)

[DOWSONM]

RE: EDWARD BARRETT (also known as Timothy (possibly his second name) and Barratt)
On trying to locate a death certificate for my great great grandfather (one census record states his dob as 1835, but actual age given on the census is not always consistent with this and could be as late as 1842), I found one entry for a death in Kensington (the place he would almost certainly have died), for 1909 aged 75. This is the only entry between 1891 and 1920 that appears to be correct. I have not been able to search post 1920, although a death date of 1920+ would have made him quite old, bearing in mind that people then did not appear to live to great ages). However, the death cert. states that he died in Kensington Infirmary and that he was homeless. I find this surprising as on the census records he did have an address and family (several children, one of whom, I'm sure, would have given him a home) and was employed as a labourer, although his wife, Bridget, died in 1894. The last census showing any record of Edward was the 1891 census.

I realise I can obtain specific records of patients at the Infirmary - now, I believe, St Mary Abbotts Hosp. (from National Archives),but would like to be a bit more certain I have the correct person. If he died in the infirmary, does anyone know if there was a specific burial place used by these institutions, or would he have been buried in the local cemetery in a common grave?

Thanks for your help

Regards,

Margaret

[Colin Rowledge]

In the 1901 census - RG13/33/40/23 - crown copyright TNA, there is an Inmate by the name of sic Joseph Rouledge. He is listed as age 23, married and employed as a Railway Fireman.

His full name is Arthur Joseph Rouledge [but that surname was a phonetic pronunciation]. I have his marriage certificate to Bessie Annison and his name is definitely Rowledge

Also in the 1901 census - RG13/30/85/83 - is his wife Bessie. There are some errors in the original schedule and it has been transcribed as written from the original. She is living at 16 Southam Street Kensington. She has 3 children [Florence age 3, Ethel age 1 and an as yet unnamed son age 2 wks shown just as Census] with her.

Coming up to 1911 the family is now at Cuxham Road, Watlington, Oxon, Oxfordshire. Arthur Joseph is now a full-fledged Railway Engine Driver. In addition to the 3 children from 1901 [including the unnamed son now named Arhur William] are 3 more children.

From my perspective, seeing the site of the 1901 census and the status [Inmate] for him, is misleading. I truly feel that he had sustained an injury at his place of work and was hospitalized to recover from those injuries.

He obviously continued to support his family and died in Willesden in 1962 at age 84.

Colinj