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  1. #1
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    Default M, W, C in Burial Register

    I think I have actually answered my question whilst writing the title for my thread but Ill go ahead anyway for confirmation.

    I have found the possible burial of an ancestor James HARMAN on 18th April 1874 at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster. This is in the Westminster Burials on findmypast.

    There is a column with a letter M, W or C after each entry. Does this mean Man, Woman, Child? If so, this is not my ancestor as the entry is marked C.

  2. #2
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    Surely there weren't any burials at St Martin in the Fields in 1874?

  3. #3
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    I think it may refer to the material the shroud was made of - wool, canvas/cotton or muslin

    Emeltee

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Goodey View Post
    Surely there weren't any burials at St Martin in the Fields in 1874?
    Yes you're right, Peter.

    Fumble fingers - it should have been 1784.

  5. #5
    Kiltpin
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    Quote Originally Posted by emeltee View Post
    I think it may refer to the material the shroud was made of - wool, canvas/cotton or muslin

    Emeltee
    This is probably a very stupid question, but why would it make a difference? Unless, it was the intention to dig someone up later. And surely muslin is made from cotton?

    Am I missing something obvious?

    Regards

    Kiltpin

  6. #6
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    See Wikipedia "Burying in Woollen Acts".

    But I can't really buy that. Wouldn't linen or silk be the alternative to wool? In any case I don't think the law was strictly enforced by 1784.

  7. #7
    Kiltpin
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    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Goodey View Post
    See Wikipedia "Burying in Woollen Acts".
    Thanks for that, Peter. I knew about the Act, but was not sure of the dates.

    Regards

    Kiltpin

  8. #8

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    Looking at the first pages of the list (Feb 1683/4) intrigued why none of the "stillborn of ..." or "abortive of ..." are marked M, C or W.
    "dyfal donc a dyr y garreg"

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by helachau View Post
    Looking at the first pages of the list (Feb 1683/4) intrigued why none of the "stillborn of ..." or "abortive of ..." are marked M, C or W.
    I was trying to work out how to get to the first page of the book to see if it said what the abbreviations were - but I presume it doesn't.

    Maybe, if they do mean Man, Woman or Child, a stillborn or abortive child either didn't need to be noted as Child or weren't even recognised as a person.

  10. #10
    Kiltpin
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    Quote Originally Posted by margarita View Post
    Maybe, if they do mean Man, Woman or Child, a stillborn or abortive child either didn't need to be noted as Child or weren't even recognised as a person.
    I think that you are spot on, margarita. I believe that the criteria is whether the baby draws breath or not. If they do then, by definition, they are not born "still" and are a live birth.

    Regards

    Kiltpin

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