I have been fortunate to find a great deal of information about my Patterson ancestors (originated in Killinchy, and have posted a message under that parish). My great-grandmother Isabella Bowman married Thomas Patterson in 1878. The 1901 census lists Isabella Bowman as a widow, and their children including an infant daughter named Thomasina. I have been looking for a death record for Thomas Patterson, and found one dated March 1899 (Thomasina was born in June 1899). I had originally set the death record aside, as the information I had indicated that Thomas had died in an accident in Belfast, and the death record has the cause of death as typhoid.
But everything else matches, including the occupation of baker (which is also listed as the occupation on all of the birth records of the other children. My question is, was there perhaps a stigma attached to typhoid, which might have led to the family saying that he'd died in an accident instead? Also - I'm unable to find the modern address of '9 Laburnam St' listed on the death certificate, had thought it might be a hospital at the time.
Thomasina is buried at Knock Burial Ground, in the same section as a William Patterson and a Frances Jane Patterson. I'd originally thought that these folks might have been the father and sister of Thomas but the dates don't match. I'm still trying to find a burial record for him but no luck. Isabella Patterson and all of her children emigrated to Iowa, beginning in 1905, where 3 of her daughters married 3 Magilton brothers (my grandparents were Annie Patterson and Harry Magilton).
Any information will be much appreciated - Cheers, Debbie Frizzell
dfrizzell
Tuesday 27th Dec 2016, 04:58PMMessage Board Replies
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I am not aware of any stigma attached to death by typhoid. Can’t see why a family might want to say that the cause of death was something else. Perhaps an accident somehow led to the typhoid?
Laburnum Street was between Bloomfield Avenue and Ravenscroft Avenue. The 1900 street directory lists no 9 as being vacant. It was apparently a private house. Knowing the general area, it was almost certainly a 2 up 2 down terraced house. Residential, not a hospital or commercial property. Laburnum Court is still there today so presumably Laburnum St was nearby but has been demolished. It was near the Upper Newtownards Rd end. PRONI have maps of Belfast around 1900 and you could probably verify the precise location on them.
1901 census:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Pottinger/Laburnam_Street/
The Belfast Newsletter for 13th March 1899 has a death notice inserted by Isabella Patterson which says that her husband Thomas had died at his residence of 9 Labernum St, Bloomfield Ave and was to be buried in Knock burying ground at 2pm on Monday.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Friday 30th Dec 2016, 11:24PM -
Elwyn thank you so much - could you possibly do a 'copy and paste' of the death notice? I have been looking for it for awhile - and the burial makes sense, with his young daughter later buried at Knock.
I too had seen the street directory as having 9 Labernum as being vacant, which led me - wrongly - to believe it might have been a hospital. I will have to read up on typhoid in Belfast. It will likely remain a mystery as to why the cause of death has been passed on as 'accident', but I can now confirm that this Thomas Patterson was indeed my great-great-grandfather. Again, many thanks! and another address to visit in August .... Cheers Debbie
dfrizzell
Saturday 31st Dec 2016, 03:33PM -
Debbie,
Sorry but I can’t get this computer to take a screen shot of the entry at all. If you have an Ancestry account the Belfast Newsletter is available there. You might have better luck that way.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Saturday 31st Dec 2016, 05:07PM -
Elwyn thank you - I tried to edit my post but I must have a flaky internet connection. But my 'ps' was to say exactly that - I found the notice on Belfast Newsletter site, and was able to download it ... Debbie
dfrizzell
Saturday 31st Dec 2016, 07:16PM