Death records usually state the cause of death which can also offer valuable insight into the life of the departed.
CHILDHOOD. Children often did not survive the first few years of life.
Croup: Hoarse cough in infants caused by swelling of the larnyx, caused by a virus
Boll hive: An unknown disease which killed infants
ELDERLY. It was a hard physical life that aged a person beyond their years.
Decreptitude: The condition of being weakened, worn out, impaired, or broken down by old age, illness, or hard use
CHILDBIRTH. With no drugs, often little hygiene and only a midwife to attend the birth there were many motherless children raised.
Eclampsia: Coma and convulsions during or immediately after pregnancy
Puerperal exhaustion: Death due to child birth
Puerpural septicaemia: Infection in birth canal following childbirth, often causing death within 3 weeks
WORK RELATED DEATHS. The causes of death can offer insight into an ancestor’s occupation.
Berylliosis: A lung disease caused by inhaling particles of beryllium, used in watch springs. This was common amongst clock/watchmakers
Cobbler’s Illness, Shoemaker’s Illness: TB. Caused by an infection caught from cattle or tanning or working with leather
BAD BEHAVIOR. There were many vices used to escape the harshness of life.
Bad, Blood, French Pox, Lues Disease: Syphilis. General Paralysis was a euphemistic term for advanced Syphilis causing death.
Horrors, Shakes, Delerium Tremens: An acute, sometimes fatal delirium usually caused by withdrawal or abstinence from alcohol following habitual excessive drinking
TRAVEL. Diseases were brought home after travelling abroad.
Ague: Malarial Fever
American Plague, Bronze John, Dock Fever, Stranger’s Fever: Yellow Fever
Breakbone: Dengue Fever, An infectious disease of the tropics transmitted by mosquitoes and characterised by rash and aching head and joints
A full list of diseases can be found under the DEATHS tab.
CHILDHOOD. Children often did not survive the first few years of life.
Croup: Hoarse cough in infants caused by swelling of the larnyx, caused by a virus
Boll hive: An unknown disease which killed infants
ELDERLY. It was a hard physical life that aged a person beyond their years.
Decreptitude: The condition of being weakened, worn out, impaired, or broken down by old age, illness, or hard use
CHILDBIRTH. With no drugs, often little hygiene and only a midwife to attend the birth there were many motherless children raised.
Eclampsia: Coma and convulsions during or immediately after pregnancy
Puerperal exhaustion: Death due to child birth
Puerpural septicaemia: Infection in birth canal following childbirth, often causing death within 3 weeks
WORK RELATED DEATHS. The causes of death can offer insight into an ancestor’s occupation.
Berylliosis: A lung disease caused by inhaling particles of beryllium, used in watch springs. This was common amongst clock/watchmakers
Cobbler’s Illness, Shoemaker’s Illness: TB. Caused by an infection caught from cattle or tanning or working with leather
BAD BEHAVIOR. There were many vices used to escape the harshness of life.
Bad, Blood, French Pox, Lues Disease: Syphilis. General Paralysis was a euphemistic term for advanced Syphilis causing death.
Horrors, Shakes, Delerium Tremens: An acute, sometimes fatal delirium usually caused by withdrawal or abstinence from alcohol following habitual excessive drinking
TRAVEL. Diseases were brought home after travelling abroad.
Ague: Malarial Fever
American Plague, Bronze John, Dock Fever, Stranger’s Fever: Yellow Fever
Breakbone: Dengue Fever, An infectious disease of the tropics transmitted by mosquitoes and characterised by rash and aching head and joints
A full list of diseases can be found under the DEATHS tab.