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Death Certificate details

By stewpot1944 |
General Genealogy

My GGGGrandmother, Hannah Smith died on August 19th 1842 at her home in Hampton Lucy.

The informant was the Registrar, Mr Richard Pitt, and the certificate under Cause of Death states "Died in Child Bed". Quite a few points puzzle me  and I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on these questions-

a. Why was the Registrar the Informant and not a family member?

b. Does "Died in Child Bed" mean she died in child birth?

c. I cannot find a birth/baptism or death record for any corresponding child around that time - what might have happened to the child?  See my next question for an idea on this.

d. In the 1851 Hampton Lucy census, the widowed husband, John, has re-married and there is a child in the family, Anne, of the right age to have been the child born at the time of Hannah's death. Did she survice the mother?

Many thanks

Stewart

In the early years of the registration system, registering births was not compulsory for the parents. Registrars on the other hand were charged by statute with finding out and recording these events. I suspect that is what happened here. Litereally, gossip reached the ears of the registrar, perhaps from a midwife who attended the mother, that Mrs Smith had died in childbirth and he recorded it thus in his own name.

I can't be certain, but I think your interpretation of what the words 'died in child bed' mean is the correct one. It may be that the live birth of the child was not recorded for the simple reason that the Registrar didn't have that information at the time. When you say you can't find a baptism, how sure are you that the parish register for Hampton Lucy at the relevant time has been transcribed? As far as I am aware there are still many which have yet to be made available online, and you may need to check the physical register where ever it is currently being archived, to be sure about the baptism. Quickly checking FreeReg, for example, shows that no baptisms or marriages for Hampton Lucy have so far been transcribed, although burials for the relevant period have been.  No sign of Hannah's burial in 1842 though.

To give some of my thoughts in the order of your questions.

a. Up until the 1870's it was the Registrar's duty to register births and was paid by the entry, I'm assuming that it may also have been his responsibility to register the death if he was called to it.

b. Yes she would have died in childbirth.

c. Have you also checked "female" Smith for a birth?  If the Registrar registered the birth at the same time as the death the child may not have been given a name, look at the bottom of the list and see.  

You could try your luck in contacting the local Register Office and ask whether a child was registered by Mr Pitt on the exact date of 19th August, 1842, you will need to give at lest the surname for them to check.  Pity about not being able to find a baptism.

Are there any burials available to check?  You may find an entry for a child at the same time as the mother, however it's possible that Anne is the child.  Have you checked for the marriage date and would it be possible for it to have taken place before Anne's birth?

Andy's informative reply crossed mine but put a thought into mind, contact the Warwickshire Family History Society and although they may not know the answer they may be able to direct you to somebody who does know, perhaps either the appropriate Record Office or even a Facebook Group for the local area.

Another thought is that if a child didn't take a breath it would be classed as Stillborn, these registers aren't made public but require to be looked up by a close family member, however I don't believe the Stillbirth Register existed at that date. 

The only death I can find for that area, September Qtr, 1842 of a woman of childbearing age,

Hannah Smith, age 25, Foleshill and Sowe, GRO

What was Hannah's maiden name?

Many thanks for your suggestions. Re Mary's question about the husban's second marriage,  John remarried 5 years after his first wife died which is why I suspected that 9 year old Anne had survived.

I cannot find Hannah's maiden name. I have looked for both birth and marriage certificates and checked as much detail of her childrens' births/baptisms as I can find to see if her maiden name is recorded.

If you have them on the 1841 census, especially with children, please give some details.

Perhaps the 1851 census also.

In the 1841 census, the children are

  • Susannah, age 12
  • John, age 10
  • Ellen, age 8 baptised 17th February 1833, named Ellen Meacock
  • Maria, age 6
  • Hannah, age 4 and
  • Anne, 10 months
    In 1851, The widower, John, is living with his new wife -
  • John Maycock, age 55, an Agricultural Labourer, 
  • Ann, his wife, age 30, not employed
  • John, son, age 21, an Agricultural Labourer
  • Ann, daughter, age 9 – I’m not sure about this person. There was an Anne on the 1841 census age 10 months so you would expect her to be 11 now, 
  • Harriet, daughter, age 3

.

I wondered if Hannah may have been a second wife and there may have been an earlier one, mother to Susannah etc. but I don't think so, baptism of

Susannah Meacock on 19th April 1829 abode Hampton Lucy 

John on 16th January 1831

Maria Maycock on 12th April 1835

Hannah noted as Anna 26th February 1837

Anne, 10 months is the one we are looking for?  I think this fits

25th October, 1840 daughter of John and Hannah Maycock abode Hampton Lucy, occupation as the others, Labourer.

If the image isn't legible let me know and I can send it email.

I checked them all as I hoped that Hannah's surname might have been given on one, but no joy there, however I don't think you had these.

I don't think they married in Hampton Lucy.

There isn't another birth, Maycock/Siddle after 1840 and there wouldn't be for the other children born prior to registration anyway, which bodes well for Siddle being the correct maiden name. Only the birth cert will prove it either way.

 

There doesn't appear to be a marriage between Maycock and Siddle, perhaps they never married or Hannah was a widow, though I can't find anything for that, that fits.

Many apologies for causing the confusion. Trying to keep track of all the different names is very awkward. Not a good excuse and I do apologise.

My predecessor was indeed Hannah Maycock (various spellings abound for this name). She was the first wfie of John Maycock.

John married again, I believe in 1847, to Ann Lock.

Thank you for all the information you have sent.