Interesting Stories and Notes

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The Death Certificate of Mary Peacock (1773 - 1850)

Mary died in 1850 and her Death Certificate states:

Mary Peacock, female, 79 years, widow of John Peacock labourer, died on the 13th November, 1850 at Matching Green.  The cause of death was general decay and dysentery.  The Informant was John Peacock, present at the death, of Matching Green.  He signed with an ‘X’.

The above conforms well with what we know about Mary Peacock and John Peacock. 

Firstly, Mary should have been 77 or 78 years old which accords well with her baptism in 1773 (the age at death is often very inaccurate in the early death certificates).

Secondly, John Peacock (1813-896) did not sign his name here and was unable to sign his name at his marriage. 

Thirdly, Mary was living in Matching Green at the time of her death. John lived in Matching Green, and appears living there in all the Censuses from 1841 to 1891.

Fourthly, John was present at the death. It is possible that Mary was living with him, since she seems to have been very frail.  It is unlikely that she would have been in a position to support herself in an independent household.

Unfortunately the Certificate does not give John's relationship to the deceased Mary Peacock.

On balance this suggests that John was the son of Mary (Little) Peacock,  otherwise there would be no reason for him to be present at the death. 

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