Forest of Dean FHT Forum - James Cowmeadow 1819-1838

James Cowmeadow 1819-1838 (reply)

Carole Lewis — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 08:38:22 +0000

The death certificate for James arrived this morning. The James Cowmeadow killed falling down a mine in Parkend fits with the FOD parish registers as having been buried in Ruardean in December 1838. The age given is 20 which fits with the birth of James and Mary Cowmeadow's son James in early 1818 but, unfortunately, there is no reference to family on the certificate.

Thanks to Jefff for his reference to the newspaper site. I quick glance through told me that the above James's niece, Emma, daughter of sister Eliza, was a known prostitute. Nothing to add.

James Cowmeadow 1819-1838 (reply)

Carole Lewis — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 19:06:32 +0000

Many thanks both of you. I think we have nailed the man. I am confident this is the same man and I can send off for the first death certificate.

James Cowmeadow 1819-1838 (reply)

shepway — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 15:52:46 +0000

Is it possible that the death was registered in the Registration District where James lived and subsequently registered in the Registration District where he died and maybe on the direction of the Coroner?
Morwood was in Westbury on Severn Registration District and Parkend In Monmouth Registration District.

Mike

James Cowmeadow 1819-1838 (reply)

MPGriffiths — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 10:32:50 +0000

re: James' fatal accident occurred at the Coke Yard Park End - 1838/1839

The Forest of Dean Inquests have been transcribed from 1868-1938

Gloucestershire Records Office on-line Catalogue - County Coroner Forest of Dean Division: 1868-1966

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkend

The 1838 Death of Ancestry is Westbury on Severn - which covers Ruardean and 1839 is Monmouth

James Cowmeadow 1819-1838 (reply)

Carole Lewis — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 09:28:49 +0000

Thank you for pointing this out. I should have thought of it myself. Actually Free BMD has the two. One for December 1838 and a second registered in March 1839. The James in the newspaper article died and was buried at the end of December but the inquest was held in January 1839.

The question is would a death certificate have been given after the inquest. As registration wasn't obligatory can I presume James could have been buried without a certificate at the time? Where would he have been buried? The parish records indicate Ruardean. I think I am fighting myself into a corner here and will just have to plump for one to send for!

James Cowmeadow 1819-1838 (reply)

MPGriffiths — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 07:44:44 +0000

Looking at Gloucestershirebdm : there appears to be two death entries (?not sure why)- both for James Cowmeadow age 20 in 1838. Perhaps these certificates would give more information i.e.

When and and where:
Name and surname:
Sex:
Age:
Occupation:
Cause of death:
Signature, description and residence of informant:
When Registered
Signature of Register

-----

Surname: Cowmeadow

Given Names: James

Age: 20

Year died: 1838

District: Monmouth, Coleford

Entry: 157

----

Surname: Cowmeadow

Given Names: James

Age 20

Year died: 1838

District: Westbury on Severn, Newnham

Entry : 202

---

Freebdm - just has one

COWMEADOW James (no age given) - Oct/Nov/Dec Qtr 1838 - Westbury on Severn, Vol 11: Page 324

James Cowmeadow 1819-1838 (reply)

Carole Lewis — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 07:32:09 +0000

Thank you for your response. I have a copy of James Cowmeadow's (senior) will.
I am trying to be sure of my facts. I found the account of James Cowmeadow's (junior)
death in the FindMyPast newspaper section but can't find a record of the inquest on this site to confirm that horrific death is of my ancestor although the dates fit perfectly.

Thank you again.

James Cowmeadow 1819-1838 (reply)

MPGriffiths — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 16:47:54 +0000

On the burial records, James COWMEADOW is aged 20 years and residence is Moorwood

By using the Advance search you will find, James & Mary COWMEADOW's residence at the time of their christening - residence given as Moorwood, Ruardean -
James COWMEADOW Snr's Will is on Ancestry.

1836: COWMEADOW, Emma - father's forename (not stated) mother Eliza - residence, Moorwood, Ruardean

1841 Census Moorwood

COWMEADOW, Eliza 24 and Emma 5

also 1837 - Mary Ann COWMEADOW, mother Hannah , residence : MOORWOOD

James Cowmeadow 1819-1838

Carole Lewis — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 16:13:06 +0000

I have been unable to confirm from this site whether the James Cowmeadow whose burial is shown in the parish records on 30th December 1838, was the same James Cowmeadow whose death is reported in a Hereford newspaper following the subsequent inquest on 16th January 1839.

The paper reports a "frightful accident", on 26th December 1838, when James, recently employed "in a coke-yard, at Park End" stepped backwards with a "shovel full of fire" into the New Pitt. He died instantaneously.

The newspaper makes it clear that James had only been in the neighbourhood a few days. My conclusion is he was the son of James and Mary Cowmeadow so was buried in Ruardean.

Have I missed any information on this site which will confirm my conclusions?

Carole Lewis