Deaths in Linkinhorne
in 1860 & 1861
1860
The
records that I have studied cover all the people who died in Linkinhorne parish
in 1860. The total figure came to 33 persons at a time when the population of
the parish was 2551 (in April 1861). The average age for death was only 21 years
old, however if you take the average age of those who were either miners or the
sons, daughters or wife of a miner, from 21 deaths you have an average age of
only 13 years. Of the 9 persons who were farmers or relatives of farmers the
average age is 38 years. Fifteen of the deaths were of children under 5 years of
age. The youngest death was Loveday KNIGHT at 5 days old, who was found dead in
her bed. Debility and atrophy are common causes of child death with croup,
typhus and various infections of the chest. Emma MANLEY at 37 years was the only
one to die in childbirth. Amongst the adults the most common cause of death was
consumption, phthisis and typhus. Of the three deaths over 60 years of age
Joseph PARSON a miner, died of ‘Gradual
decline’ William KERNICK (67) a farmer, of heart disease and Jane DAWE (85)
widow of an agricultural labourer, of old age and heart disease.
Other
surnames of deceased in 1860 are:
Allen
Andrews
Baskel
Bennett
Bowden
Bray
Carkeel
Chegwin x2
Davis
Gourd
Harvey
Hawkey
HEnwood
Hoar
Hodge x2
Hore
Northcott x2
Rawling
Smetherham
Snell
Spargo
Trehane x2
Vine
Webb
1861
1861
was a worse year for deaths in Linkinhorne as 41 died in a population of 2551
(April census), compared to 33 in the previous year. The average age of all
deceased persons was only 15 years! The youngest to die was a one day old
premature child of the JENKIN family and the oldest was 92 year old John
MITCHELL a farmer. The Coroner was
called out twice and was obviously perplexed as to the cause of death as it is
listed as ‘Visitation of God’, this was for
6 week old Samuel GOVETT and for 22 year old Emma TONKYN.
The death of 5 month old Emily Ann NICHOLLS is listed as ‘Unknown’
and uncertified and 5 day old Richard LUCAS was stated as ‘Found dead in
bed’. Seven year old Elizabeth Jane MITCHELL died from ‘Accidental
burning’, but the coroner was not called in for any of these three.
In all a total of 28 deaths were of children below the age of 5. Causes
of death range from croup to convulsions, rickets, fever, debility, abscess,
ulceration of throat, disease of the skin, teething and there were 6 fatal cases
of measles during the summer months. Ann PEARCE died in childbirth and the son
she gave birth to, George Thomas died four months later of ‘stoppage of the
bowel’. There were another two unlucky families – in February Sarah JEFFERY,
the 5 year old daughter of Thomas died and in March 10 month old Ann died of
‘debility’. On the 29th March 3 year old Elizabeth daughter of
William OLVER died of fever and four days later her 19 year old brother Henry
died of typhus, which leaves one to doubt the diagnosis of the first death.
What I have noticed so far from these records, apart from the sad and
what are now quite preventable deaths of children, is the fact that there are
very few death of what we would call middle-aged people i.e. 40 – 60 years, or
even the earlier period from 25 to 40. It would seem that if you got past 20 you
had a reasonable chance of living to old age as in 1861 after the age of 25 the
deceased were 32, 36, 38, 50, 61, 64, 66, 71, 92 and if anyone lived into their
80’s or 90’s there was a strong chance they were farmers
Lynda
Small
2001