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A Gt grandmother's death in 1866 - if she was a widow, would it show that the husband was deceased? I have got her death certificate but it just states 'Wife of' and the name of the husband and what work he did. I have found a death of a William Southcott in 1859 in the right area, but the 1861 census shows him as still alive. I have sent a query to GRO, but I am not sure that I will get an answer.
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I have found that if it says "wife of", the husband is usually still living. It depends who the person was who registered the death and how much information they knew. -
As Vivian says, any death certificates that I've had have been quite accurate .....................
although it does rather depend on the informant.
I've found that if the couple has separated, the certificates that I've seen have been more likely to say "widow of .... ", even if the husband is still alive but living elsewhere. The women seemed to think it sounded better to be a widow, than separated!My grandmother, on the beach, South Bay, Scarborough, undated photo (poss. 1929 or 1930)
Researching Cadd, Schofield, Cottrell in Lancashire, Buckinghamshire; Taylor, Park in Westmorland; Hayhurst in Yorkshire, Westmorland, Lancashire; Hughes, Roberts in Wales.Comment
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Just out of interest, I went to the GRO Index site, which shows ages at death, and found the following 4 William Southcotts, the only ones to die in that time period.
Do you know the age of your William?
SOUTHCOTT, WILLIAM 33
GRO Reference: 1858 J Quarter in TAUNTON Volume 05C Page 272
SOUTHCOTT, WILLIAM 54
GRO Reference: 1859 J Quarter in CLIFTON Volume 06A Page 70
SOUTHCOTT, WILLIAM 65
GRO Reference: 1859 D Quarter in EXETER Volume 05B Page 68
SOUTHCOTT, WILLIAM 70
GRO Reference: 1860 S Quarter in EXETER Volume 05B Page 72My grandmother, on the beach, South Bay, Scarborough, undated photo (poss. 1929 or 1930)
Researching Cadd, Schofield, Cottrell in Lancashire, Buckinghamshire; Taylor, Park in Westmorland; Hayhurst in Yorkshire, Westmorland, Lancashire; Hughes, Roberts in Wales.Comment
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The following Williams age 70 or over died between 1861 and 1871 in that area of England ....
SOUTHCOTT, WILLIAM 89
GRO Reference: 1868 J Quarter in CREDITON Volume 05B Page 247
SOUTHCOTT, WILLIAM 86
GRO Reference: 1871 M Quarter in EXETER Volume 05B Page 74My grandmother, on the beach, South Bay, Scarborough, undated photo (poss. 1929 or 1930)
Researching Cadd, Schofield, Cottrell in Lancashire, Buckinghamshire; Taylor, Park in Westmorland; Hayhurst in Yorkshire, Westmorland, Lancashire; Hughes, Roberts in Wales.Comment
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"Wife of ... " should indicate her husband was still alive, as that was her status at the time of her death. If he had pre-deceased her it should say "widow of..... ".Originally posted by Suflod View Post
Of course that may also depend on the informant who registered her death knowing her family circumstances well enough to give accurate information.Retired professional researcher, and ex- deputy registrar, now based in Worcestershire. Happy to give any help or advice I can ( especially on matters of civil registration) - contact via PM or my website www.chalfontresearch.co.uk
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