You may think that when a memorial is in this condition that it is impossible to discover who is buried there.
Aha! Not if you have access to comprehensive records such as the ones existing for Radnor Street Cemetery.
The burial registers for Radnor Street Cemetery come in various forms. There is a set of alphabetical indices plus a set of chronological volumes. I was able to check the date closest to Mary's death on April 29, 1884 and soon found her surname and the date of her burial on May 3. The entry in the burial registers provided her address as 10 Bridge Street, Swindon and, helpfully, that she was the wife of John Perkins. From here I was able to search the grave plot register and discover with whom she was buried.
Then it was back to the Ancestry website to piece together the family.
In 1881, three years before Mary's death, the family were living at 10 Bridge Street. John aged 47, was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire and worked as an Iron Moulder in the railway factory. Mary was 51 and was from Burton upon Trent, Staffs. Living with them were their three children, Mary A. 23, Joseph 21 who also worked as an Iron Moulder in the Works and Emily 16. They also had a year old baby living with them, Seth John Perkins who is described as John's nephew and was born in Bristol. There appears to be some confusion concerning this baby as he is described on subsequent census returns as son and grandson.
In 1886 John married for a second time. The marriage took place in Brackley, Northamptonshire and in 1891 John is still living at 10 Bridge Street with his second wife Sarah 49 and Seth aged 11. By 1901 John, Sarah and Seth are living at 63 Curtis Street.
Sarah died at her home 39 Bathampton Street in February 1911 and was buried with Mary in grave plot A529.
John remained living at Bathampton Street until his death in 1915 aged 81 years old. He was buried with his two wives.
I bet they wonder who planted the blooming great tree next to their grave.
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Aha! Not if you have access to comprehensive records such as the ones existing for Radnor Street Cemetery.
The burial registers for Radnor Street Cemetery come in various forms. There is a set of alphabetical indices plus a set of chronological volumes. I was able to check the date closest to Mary's death on April 29, 1884 and soon found her surname and the date of her burial on May 3. The entry in the burial registers provided her address as 10 Bridge Street, Swindon and, helpfully, that she was the wife of John Perkins. From here I was able to search the grave plot register and discover with whom she was buried.
Then it was back to the Ancestry website to piece together the family.
In 1881, three years before Mary's death, the family were living at 10 Bridge Street. John aged 47, was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire and worked as an Iron Moulder in the railway factory. Mary was 51 and was from Burton upon Trent, Staffs. Living with them were their three children, Mary A. 23, Joseph 21 who also worked as an Iron Moulder in the Works and Emily 16. They also had a year old baby living with them, Seth John Perkins who is described as John's nephew and was born in Bristol. There appears to be some confusion concerning this baby as he is described on subsequent census returns as son and grandson.
In 1886 John married for a second time. The marriage took place in Brackley, Northamptonshire and in 1891 John is still living at 10 Bridge Street with his second wife Sarah 49 and Seth aged 11. By 1901 John, Sarah and Seth are living at 63 Curtis Street.
Sarah died at her home 39 Bathampton Street in February 1911 and was buried with Mary in grave plot A529.
John remained living at Bathampton Street until his death in 1915 aged 81 years old. He was buried with his two wives.
I bet they wonder who planted the blooming great tree next to their grave.
Bathampton Street in the Railway Village
Unfortunately, we have had to cancel this season's guided cemetery walks at Radnor Street. However, we are posting virtual graveside talks on our Facebook page.