Didn't they do some weird things, our ancestors!

[dawnlea]

Hi everybody!! ;D

Whilst trawling through more parish registers in search of those elusive ancestors, I found that a lot of people are recorded, by affidavit, as being buried in wool. What's all that about!?! It was recorded in the burials register (obviously!!) but why make mention of it? This is around the mid-1700's. Am I right in thinking that there was a big problem with smallpox at this time? Was this anything to do with it? Or did they just want to be really comfy in the afterlife?? :2fun: Also, why does it say in the parish registers that some people were buried 'in accordance with the 1880 Burials Act' or something like that?? Were these people from outside the parish, people whose relatives couldn't afford to pay for the funeral or people who hadn't been baptized?? Just wondering!!

 

[izabel]

maybe they only buried them like that in winter so they wouldnt freeze to death when they realised they were not actually dead and the wool kept them warm while they were ringing the graveyard bell or maybe they were worsted whatevers and were buried with the tools of their trade or maybe they just did these things to annoy their ancestors. The mind boggles

 

[dawnlea]

Hi Izabel ;D

Have just done some more virtual digging and, apparently, under the Burial Laws Amendment Act 1880, burial can take place without the rites of the Church of England. In these cases, permission must be sought in the correct way. It then goes on to say that this is not necessary if a C of E priest resides over the burial. So maybe it had something to do with religion and people who weren't C of E being buried in the church graveyard. I'm not quite sure!