John WHITTINGTON + Isabella JONES (General)

by Blakemiz , Wednesday, November 05, 2014, 21:16 (3665 days ago) @ philrmoon

It is difficult to establish which John Whittingham this relates to as there are several. The references to the murder do not give an age for him.
However, if one assumes that he was of a similar age to his wife Isabella and not some 20+ years older, then he could be the John bp at Walford in 1791 to John and Margaret Whittingham, making him a grandson of Walter Whittingham & Ann [Harris] from whom I am descended.
There is no burial record for John Whittingham, as at this time, it was the custom for murderers following hanging at Gloucester Gaol - his body would have been sent for dissection and not returned to his parish nor buried within Gloucester thus denying a family burial. This was particularly harsh considering that his wife Isabella was expecting his last child, James. The PR bp Index simply states that James was the son of Isabella Whittingham, her husband deceased.
The circumstances of the murder seem to be that John Whittingham was one of a group of men including 2 Draper brothers who set out to 'rescue' Mrs Draper from a local strong-house pending her trial. In the course of the rescue, Thompson, a local policeman was killed.

If you subsequently discover any further information to verify or negate the above, please advise.
kind regards