52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks–Week #5–Susannah Barrowcliff–My 3rd great grandmother–1792-1868–England

I recently wrote a post about Susannah’s husband, Thomas Gillespie.  You can read the post here.

In that post I documented his marriage to Susannah and their children together.  I also mentioned that I did not have a death record for Susannah.

Shortly after I published that post and made that statement, I ordered the death record for Susannah.  I received the record this week.

I located the death record on Family Search under the England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007.
  
This is the index record I located

Name     Susan Gillispie
Event Type     Death
Registration Quarter     Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration Year     1876
Registration District     Bridgwater
County     Somerset
Event Place     Bridgwater, Somerset, England
Age (available after 1866)     84
Birth Year (Estimated)     1792
Volume     5C
Page     324
Line Number     308

Why did I conclude that this might be “my” Susan Gillespie?

• Because in 1871 she was living with her daughter, Mary Ann Addicott & family in Bridgwater. 
• The age for the person in this record would be close to what I have based on the 1841, 1851 and 1871 census records for Susannah.
• I cannot locate her in the 1881 census records for England.
• It’s the record that matches closest to the information I have.

Sometimes when we order records we cannot be sure they will be the correct record.  However, in this case, I thought it was worth the $11.84.  So, I sent for the record.

The record was ordered from General Register Office.  You can order online and the process is very easy.  I’ve ordered from them before and the response time is usually less than a month.

Of course, like all of you, I checked my mailbox every day, after about the two week mark, hoping to see that envelope.
 
I was well rewarded when it came.  The information on this record gives evidence that this is the correct record for my Susannah.

Here is her death certificate.


As I have noted in red, there are many indications that this is the correct Susan Gillespie.

English records aren’t as complete as Scottish or U.S. records.  I know the cause of her death now.  But, I still do not know who her parents were.  I would very much like to find out so that I can take this family back one more generation, at least.
 
I’ll keep looking.  In the meantime, if you have any connection to this family, please contact me.  I’d love to exchange information.

To see my other 52 Ancestors posts please click on the tab at the top of the page or 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

FRIDAY FINDS ~ Newspaper article for the death/possible suicide of Ralph Gillespie Forsyth – 1952

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

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