Genealogy Chat

see below in a mo

Anyone any ideas – I have the dates of death for all eight of my great grandparents, have visited the graves for five of them and would dearly love to visit the other three. Now the problem – although I have date and place of death for all three of them – all London - two in 1918 and one 1929, I can’t seem to trace where they are buried. From personal experience I know that funeral directors take great pride in keeping full records of all funerals they organise – but how long do they keep the records for, and how on earth do I trace which funeral directors would have been operating in the area at the time? Any ideas gratefully received – going round in huge circles!!!! Looby

Have you looked at local newspapers for the time to see if the deaths were reported in death columns or obituaries written which might mention the cemetery or the funeral directors. I know at that time people might not have been able to afford notices in the papers but I have been surprised at how many times my very hard up family managed to find money for such things. Kath. x

Looby Were they the sort of people who would put a death notice in the paper? That would give you the name of the Funeral Dirctors and possibly even arrangements for the burial or cremation. OC

Thanks both of you - will try that, but not sure that they would have done. One great grandmother died in the great Influenza epidemic of 1918. The other died whilst her husband was away in the army in 1918 and I don't think it's something the children would have thought of, and I'm not sure whether the rest of the family were talking to my ggrandfather when he died in 1929 even though my grandad was the informant. Will just have to keep looking, but thank you. Looby

Well the local council found my grt grans burial record in SE London of 1907 So they do keep records still. Plus when i visited the cemetrary the supervisor there opened a big ledger and all the records where there. he was able to tell me where in the cemetary others of my family were buried , just by me giving the death month & year. Shirley

Looby - in which areas did these three die? I take it you have already tried checking the burial records for the cemeteries closest to where they all died? Athena

Looking at death notices would give you an idea of which Undertakers were operating in the area at the time and you could then try to trace the Undertakers forward - not an easy or quick task. OC

Thanks all - Athena - having trouble locating which cemetaries it would be: two of the deaths occured at 71 Ivy Lane Hoxton and the other at 50 Melbourne Road Walthamstow. Old Crone - nothing on this line has ever been quick - so what's new LOLOL Any ideas greatly appreciated. thanks Looby