The Melancholy Death of the Reverend Samuel Carver and his wife - Malin Bridge Sheffield - September 1842

 This cutting is from the liverpool Times dated Septermber 1842 and refers to the "melancholy death" of the incumbent at Stanningtion Church and his recently married wife who is not named.

Malin Bridge is at the bottom of the hill from Stanningtion Church and must be at least two miles way. Nevertheless a horse bolting at full gallop down the hill to the bridge must have been a terrifying experience for the couple. Serious injury and death were inevtable given the contruction of the bridge.

I checked to see if this accident had been reported elsewhere and the onlt on-line reference I could locate was on the Stannington Church website. 

"Samuel Robinson Carver 1842-1846

To alleviate the problem of a travelling clergyman, a syndicate of local businessmen built a parsonage and school and provided a stipend of £100pa for a resident minister.  There nominee was Samuel Carver, a Sheffield man who was a Cambridge graduate and had recently married a Cambridge woman of some wealth.  Irregularly the appointment was made without consulting the Vicar of Ecclesfield but nobody seemed to mind.  Sadly Mr & Mrs Carver were both killed when their horse bolted causing their carriage to overturn at Malin Bridge.  The couple are buried in the churchyard."

Unfortunately the writer gave the impression that the Rev Carver continued to serve his parish for another 4 years after his death in 1842. And like the newspaper no name is given for his wife who is nameless.

Here are the correct details of the marriage and death and also the name of his wife - Eliza Anne (nee Harris)

Surname First name(s)         District Vol Page 

Marriages Dec 1841   

CARVER Samuel Robinson Cambridge 14 19  

HARRIS Eliza Anne Cambridge 14 19   

Surname First name(s) Age District Vol Page 

Deaths Sep 1842   

CARVER Eliza Ann Ecclesall Bierlow 22 71

From the excellent Sheffield Indexers site

Carver, Eliza Anne (~, age 42).

Died at Stannington; Buried on September 8, 1842 in Consecrated ground;

Grave Number ~, Section ~ of Christ Church Cemetery, Stannington.

Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 36

Carver, Samuel Robinson (~, age 38).

Died at Stannington; Buried on September 8, 1842 in Consecrated ground;

Grave Number ~, Section ~ of Christ Church Cemetery, Stannington.

Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 36

I have not been to the church at Stannington for a few years now and so I cannot say wether or not there is a memorial to Samuel and Eliza.