Genealogy Chat

I have a death cert for 1854, with cause of death 'typhus gravura certified 21 days'. I thought that 'certified' meant that there was/had been a doctor in attendance - please correct me if I'm wrong. The deceased was the wife of an Ag Lab. There were 3 children to support, and the Ag Lab was also paying 2 shillings a week on a bastardy order. So could they have afforded a doctor - even for such a nasty disease. Thank you in advance for any extra information provided. Barbara

My husbands lot were all ag lab's. One of his relations had many children, and died in childbirth in 1880. The cert says 'certified', but I think they couldnt afford a doctor, and the doctor was called AFTER death, to certify the death.

Maybe he was charitable and did pro bono work - it wasn't unknown even back then to do some work for free, or maybe he was paid in kind? Anything's a possibility.

Many thanks for that Rebekka. Barbara

Snowdrops Thanks for your ideas as well. I can see that preventing the spread of typhoid in a rural community would definitely be 'pro bono publica' Barbara

Thank you to whoever nudged this back up to the top and then deleted. Barbara

hi Ag labs often belonged to a type of club, they would pay a penny or two each week and in times of need such as illness or unemployment they could draw on the collective fund to help them through the hard times. Yours Chris

Thanks for that little bit of info Chris. It would definitely make sense - an early form of the 'friendly societies' in case of a rainy day. Barbara

Typhoid was a notifiable disease even then - there was no treatment and no cure, so I should think the Doctor came in AFTER death to certify the cause - having previously popped his head round the door to confirm it was Typhoid. OC

Thanks for that OC. I had a feeling Typhoid would be a special case. Barbara