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Undertakers records....

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Deb

Deb Report 21 Aug 2006 18:21

Has anyone ever looked at undertaker records before? I noticed my local studies library has some Undertakers accounts and I just wondered what sort of info they hold...Would it just be a whole load of figures or do you think it could have details of funerals?? Deb

Mavis

Mavis Report 21 Aug 2006 19:18

Could be either: Records ought to show name of person being buried, date, time, place from & to (ie address of house and burial place and church in between) number of funeral cars/ carriages etc. But accounts may only show an amounts paid in and expenses out against the person's name or even worse a reference number, that refers to a seperate record containing all the above. Which is not much help really!! Probably best to go and ask. Mavis

Cornish

Cornish Report 21 Aug 2006 19:37

I've got one from 1906 and 1934. Both of them show the same information - No. of grave, date, name of deceased, residence at death, description (ie child of.., widow), age, folllowed by a list of fees, including whether grave was reopened and details of transport used. But I suppose it all depends what the procedure was at the relevant church. Bex

Deb

Deb Report 21 Aug 2006 19:52

Thanks Bex and Mavis I am hoping it will contain lots of detail!!! I am going to the local studies library tomorrow so I think I might take a peek!!! Deb

Deb

Deb Report 22 Aug 2006 16:28

Hi I just thought that I would let you know that I went and viewed the undertakers records today!!!! The info they contained depended on the sort of funeral you had..... My 4xg grandmother who died age 103 in 1874 had.... covered 1 row & slip ??? Pall & self ?? 4 crape bands for mourners total cost £2 .5 (Don't know the symbol for shillings!!) This bill was settled by the undertaker.....any ideas why? Could it have been her age? Deb

Mavis

Mavis Report 22 Aug 2006 17:08

Could be her age, could undertaker possibly have been a relation, maybe she paid into some form of funeral fund run by the undertaker. Only suggestions. Pall is the cover over the coffin; row & slip might be the linings in the coffin. For comparision (!) my grand father's funeral 100years later which was for hearse with pair of horses and car (!) with pair of horses, elm coffin with fittings, and interment fees cost £26 11s 6d. s - shillings; d - pence (I'm old enough to remember) Mavis