Annie Elizabeth Lush 1879-1879 - Granville Street Park Sheffield

Turners Hill leading down to Granville Street Sheffield

This small article appeared in the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated  Saturday 27th December 1879 and it refers to a death that occurred the previous Saturday - 20th December 1879

The death of a baby or young infant by accidental suffocation was not an uncommon occurrence, Given the grinding poverty and houses that were little more than hovels many families resorted to body warmth as a means of keeping young babies and children as warm as they could. Sadly the death of their child through suffocation was always a possibility and in this case the risk manifested itself

The inquest on Tuesday 23rd December 1879 was held at night at the long gone Station Hotel on Granville Street. Night inquests were not uncommon either - the jury members were employees and could not take time off work to attend inquests during the day. And by holding the inquest in a pub which again was a common feature of the time they could refresh themselves as well as conduct their duties as jurors.

   

John Ruskin and Sheffield

I was going to place an article on the site relating to John Ruskin and Sheffield but I came across this article on the Guild of St George website which is very informative on the subject. Needless to say it was not worth pursuing this  avenue  - I could not add anything to this well researched article   

However I did have this cutting from The Manchester Guardian dated 05 March 1953 which explains why John Riskin decided to locate his museum in Sheffield in 1875  

 

The Death of Elias Armitage - Canal Basin Sheffield March 1908

 I have just posted an article to the site regarding the death of Elias Armitage in March 1908 in the Camal Basin at Sheffield

The inquest that was held on Monday 06 April 1908 was a strange one inasmuch as the Coroner directed the jury NOT to return a verdict of suicide on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence to prove that this was the case. He then goes on to say that the case points strongly to the fact that the victim did commit suicide and he had "no doubt that Armitage did commit suicide." If that was his strong belief why did he not convey this to the jury? But he the goes on to say that it was possible for Armitage to have fallen into the canal unintentionally. The jury must have been by this time been totally confused by the Coroner's musings and returned an open verdict. This was of course the correct verdict as no one could say for certain what caused Elias's death.

The only thing I am perplexed about is that I can find no record of a burial for Elias after the inquest or if indeed he had any family. 

The Revill Family Tragedy - Sheffield August 1925

The excellent Sheffield Indexers site has this entry for two burials for a father and son at Sheffield's City Road Cemetery. They are buried  in the same grave and their burials were just five days apart 

REVILL, George (, age 27).      Died at Royal Hospital; Buried on August 31, 1925 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 24241, Section II1 of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield. Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 18

REVILL, George (Son of late George, age 10mths). Died at 2 Red hill; Buried on September 5, 1925 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 24241, Section II1 of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield. Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 18

On the face of it it just seems a horrible co-incidence but if you read the Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 29th August 1925 the death of the father takes on a whole new dimension

It refers to an inquest that took place the previous day

The cut was described as "slight" and "small" and one that "often happened" in the workplace, Nevertheless happen it did, and it did not receive any treatment at all. This neglect resulted in the onset of Septicaemia (sepsis) and the death in hospital of George from the condition. His death was preventable        

I do not know how his son died but it was at home 2 Red Hill Broad Lane, His mothers grief must have been unimaginable!

Good Friday in Sheffield - 19th April 1889

 This is again from the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated Saturday 20th April 1889 and refers to the events that occurred in Sheffield the previous day Friday 19th April 1889 - Good Friday.

It is interesting to note that at "the big works and factories the men were busily at work." although many shops banks and business in the city were closed. 

Good Friday Customs and Legends

 This is from the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 20th April 1889 and from the byline it seems as though this was a syndicated article from the Daily Chronicle