As a family tree researcher, my job is to uncover the truth from the past. There is no better story to read than the one your ancestors will tell you.

For most of us we are born, we marry and then we die.  By following the paper trail of an ancestor we can learn so much about their life. It can also give us a real sense of who we are.

Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates hold all the information we need to build a story of our ancestors.  A discovery of love, life and loss.

The death of an ancestor will always have a sadness surrounding it. For most the cause of death will be a product of old age or illness, but for a rare few there will be an unusual ending . Here are the top five curious deaths that I have discovered during  my very own family research.

1.Thomas Edward Neal – Mining Accident

Friday the 13th of January 1893 proved to be a particularly unlucky day for Thomas Edward Neal who was fatally killed at the age of 36 when he was accidentally knocked down by a coal tub at Pontop Colliery in Catchgate, Durham. The cause of death explaining that he took 10 minutes to die from a fractured skull. This would have no doubt been incredibly shocking news for his heavily pregnant wife who was due to give birth to their eighth son!!!!!!!

2. Alice Nesbit – Suicide

On the 21st February 1901 Alice Nesbit very sadly took her own life only 5 weeks after giving birth to her fourth son, John. In an ‘unsound state of mind’ she committed suicide by poisoning herself with carbolic acid. This would have undoubtedly been a painful death. Her husband who was also called John, had to register his sons birth and his wife’s death on the same day. The use of Carbolic Acid to commit suicide was popular at this time as it was a common household product that was readily available.

3. Ann Connolly – Child Birth

On the 23rd November 1890, Ann tragically died whilst giving birth to her son, William. Pelvic deformity, protracted and tedious labour exhaustion being the cause of death for her. Child Birth was a hugely risky business back then. Williams future wife, Sarah, lost her mother in the same way.

4. Isabella Hetherington – Exhaustion

Isabella died on the 27th June 1870 only 28 days after giving birth to her fourth child, a daughter named Jane. Nervous Exhaustion is named as the cause of death and we can only speculate that this would likely to have been caused by some form of depression or anxiety.  Very sadly these children would be separated and sent to live with various different relatives when their father died 4 years after their mother, leaving them orphans.

5. Ann Grieves – Disease

Ann Grieves unfortunately died from Typhoid Fever on the 20th December 1865. A bacterial infection caused by poor hygiene. It was spread by food and water contaminated with infected faeces!!! This was a highly contagious disease. Thankfully it is uncommon in the UK now due to improvements in sanitation and medical advances.

Are you curious about your ancestors? Interested in commissioning your own family tree research? Please go to www.curiousancestry.co.uk for further details.

“Walk through time, discover your past”