Topics → Public Graves

Hi
When we visited Barnsley Crematorium we found that one of my Grandmother's little sisters was buried in a Public Grave in December 1889, while some of the other children were buried with the parents. This little one died at 10 months old and according to the death cert she died from bronchitis- 1 week. Do you have any idea why she would have been in a public grave? The grave is in the Barnsley Cemetery Section Q #247.

Posted 27 Jan at 10:02pm by Shelly

Hi Shelley,

CPG = Childrens Public Grave, or at that time "Paupers Grave". People who were poor and could not afford the cost of a Grave Plot or Funeral were buried in a Public Grave paid for by the Council.
Many of the CPG's hold many children, in Thurnscoe there is one grave with 82 babie and 1 adult,all Cemeteries had the mass grave under different names, In Swinton near Mexborough they called it the "Stillborn Well" in Thurnscoe it was "The Green Toblerone" because of the shape of the cover over the grave.
Remember Child Mortality was high in the early part of the Century and many were poor, but the Public Grave Burials were still in force in the 1990's.
There was no Stigma attached to this kind of burial, at least they had a place to rest, I have come across babies in Telephone Boxes, canals, Ditches and many more locations, they eventually were given a Decent Burial.

Peter

Posted 27 Jan at 11:38pm by Peter for Shelly

Thank you Peter. I guess one would have had 'to walk a mile in their shoes' to understand, wouldn't they?
Atleast she was buried as you said.
Thanks, Shelly

Posted 28 Jan at 7:06pm by Shelly

Hi Peter i wonder if you can help me i am searching for the burial of my 6th great grandparents who died before barnsleys main cemetery opened there names were Eve Fletcher born 1750 died 1839 and Tobias Fletcher born 1751 died 1813 he was a clockmaker, i was wondering if you could put me on to someone or somewhere i could search for there deaths had no luck on ancestry

Posted 9 May at 5:27pm by Richard Fletcher

Hi Richard,

I will look in St Peters Churchyard Hoyland for you they may be in there, will get back to you

Peter

Posted 9 May at 8:08pm by Peter for Richard

Hi Richard,

They are not in Hoyland St Peters, they could be in another Churchyard, but I am sorry I havn't any info on any of the other churchyards in Barnsley. Have a look on the net for some of the Churches in Barnsley, and see if they have any headstone info.

Peter

Posted 9 May at 9:55pm by Peter for Richard