Genealogy Chat

Michelle Just reading this and trying to think of Hospitals in or around Musewell Hill area and the only one I can think of is Coppetts Wood which was for Infectious Diseases, I worked there as part of my Training in the mid 1970's, it was attached to the Royal Free Teaching Hospital, Hampstead (originally situated in Grays Inn Road), the Royal Free Hospital was amalgamted with Hampstead General Hospital in the 1970's. I nursed many elderly people who were leaving their bodies to medical science for one reason or another, and if I am not mistaken the Royal Free Group of Hospitals used Highgate Cemetrey for burials, but there is possibly an other Cemetery used as well. I think the local Council Office and Library could be helpful to you, also checking Cemeteries in the area. Originally called Pauper's graves, & were a stigma for families who could not afford a plot of their own, they still go on today and are know as public graves, but the cemetery have a list of all internments and can look his name up for you, you would need to give them as much information when he was buried to narrow it down for them. The Hospital will not give details of patients or anyone who left the body to science that information is closed for 100 years. Hope this is of some use to you Michelle. Good Luck Pat x

Michelle If he left his body for medical research I think it would have to be to the Anatomy Department of a medical school rather than a hospital as the rules regarding medical research are very strict. It might be worthwhile contacting the Anatomy Department at one of the London Universities which offers medical degrees

Janine and carole, many thanks for your replies - such little respect for the dead is incredibly sad . I really hope that i can get a lead somewhere amongst these interesting suggestions. Have learnt a few things from this one thread I must say!

Three members of my family were buried in paupers graves - or publice graves as they are now known. The family did not have enough money for a proper burial and this was their only option. I was able to trace the burial plots by checking through the books that are kept at the cemetary. They will be able to tell you when the burial took place and where the plot is. My great grand father has a marked headstone but all it has on there is the number. I have been told that there are at least three others in his plot. If the hospital can tell you where your family member is buried, it is worth checking their burial records and hipefully you will find a plot or headstone.Good luck..........Janine

THANKS PATRICA - USEFUL INFO - NOW TO FIND THE HOSPITAL !! X :-)

Paupers graves are now called public graves. Still in use. Bodies left to medical science have a funeral paid for by the hospital or medical school unless they want to do it themselves.

My husbands family paid an undertaker friend to bury my father-in-law as they were not sure what to do in 1962. When the family visited the grave a couple of days later a cemetry worker told them that the grave was a paupers grave and as there were several bodies in there already and the grave was open for more bodies to be included. I had to do some fast work and contact the Home office(I think) and stop more people going into this grave,I then bought another grave and had him interned there.An offical came and we had to identify the coffin as the correct one befor he was rebuired. I think that had I had more knowledge I would have sued the B..... because the family paid good money .So be warned there is someone ready to take advantage of us.

Thanks for your thoughts Sylvia - unfortunately my knowledge of my grandad is very limited. There doesnt seem to be any personal effects left at all, certainly no will that i know of. His last days were in a residential care home - which i assume was council run, certainly not privately paid for. I assume that he also expressed his wish to be left to medicine to the carers at that home. From there, I would have to try and locate local hospitals I guess and find out the procedure, maybe the family didnt actually organise the burial and left it to the hospital to sort out - i wonder if that happens ?

Thats really interesting margaret, thank you

Thanks Jeanette, i will get the number and see what they say. I have to start somewhere x

They may not have been called paupers grave's then, but everyone had the right to a funeral even if they or their family cant pay. It may have been paid for by the DHSS. My dad used to work for a funeral firm until recently, he always says that they never leave anyone uptop (LOL) I think now, most funerals paid for by the DSS are cremations as this is cheaper. Margaret

Hi Michelle Can you find a phone number for the council department that looks after the burial records in Muswell Hill? They may be able to tell you what the procedure would have been Jeanette x

Families being families i guess - lots of mysteries involved with this one, hence why i am trying to find out of my own accord. Back to the drawing board I guess!

mmm - did they not call them a paupers graves in the 70's? unfortunately this is what i have been told by retlatives. Stumped now - did everyone have a right to a marked grave do you think ?

Does anyone know if records are kept on burials in a paupers grave? my grandfather died in muswell hill london 1978, however, he wished his body to be left to 'medicine' which i understand was granted. Unfortunately I do not know which hospital. Two years later he was available for burial but was buried in a paupers grave . I know that these are unmarked but would still like to know where he rests. Any ideas where to start ?