Genealogy Chat

Just been reading up on a local cemetery and found this. Everyone had the right according to the Church of England to be buried in the parish in which they died. Even suicides were allowed to be buried in the churchyards but between the hours of 9pm and midnight and without the rites of the church. An act of 1823 had put an end to the practice of burying suicides in some public highway with a stake driven through them. You learn something new every day! Debby

Debbie Thanks for the info, my gt, gt, gran commited suicide, so far i havent been able to find out where is is burried. This info gives me an other line to go down. I would love to be able 1 day to place some flowers on her grave. Jules

Hi Jules I put it on here because I always thought suicides weren't recognised so couldn't be buried - now I know different! Paupers were buried together - up to 30 at a time and on the edges of the graveyard. As the population grew and particularly when there were outbreaks of disease they would dig people back up so they could bury more in the same spot! Debby

Debby Do you know if there would still be records for those who commited suicide or where they burried without a trace ?? Jules

I'm not sure what 'rites of the church' means - maybe that will be the clue? I bet Marjorie knows! I've found quite a few of my relatives burials but none of my paupers as yet. I haven't come across any of mine committing suicide and I think like you someone would have to pass that down through the family otherwise how would you know such a thing? Debby

Thanks Jo That explains it then but that doesn't help you Jules does it? Debby

thanks Jo & Debby Both your info gives me a greater insight in to burials. Jules

Jo She's not mine - I was just sharing a little snippet of info I've found tonight - Jules lost her gg grandmother. Debby

Jo My gt, gt grandmother commited suicide in 1883 (Liverpool), i know the family would of had enough money for a burial, so far have found no burial records. Jules

Burial registers are recording the burials, not the funeral services. Occasionally, you will see a comment, such as felo de se against a burial. I was recently told that whenever you see a comment on cause of death, this is the decision reached in an inquest. Very often, the verdict is softened because of the stigma attached to suicide. I am convinced that my 3rd great grandmother committed suicide, reading the newspaper reports, but the inquest shied away from reaching a decision.

My father took an overdose and left a note. However he was in a coma for 5 days and died of coronary arrest so technically not a suicide. When my mum told the consultant about the empty tablet bottles & note he told her he didn't want to know. This was in 1971. Debby

Debby 'Without rites of the Church' meant, to put it bluntly, they were buried in a hurry, without ceremony or prayers, in an unmarked grave, during the hours of darkness.(Usually at the edge) I think the 'unmarked grave' bit only applied to Churchyard burials - Municipal Cemeteries kept records, even if the grave wasn't actually marked. And, just because someone committed suicide, wouldn't neccesarily mean their family wouldn't have them properly buried, in a Municipal Ceremony (probably the non-con section, though, as a Vicar would be reluctant to carry out a burial service). Hope this helps - and makes sense! Marjorie

hi Debby, my grt grandfather commited suicide in 1903, he was buried in concentrecrated (spelling) ground where his wife was buried with him when she died in 1928. linda