Deaths St. Mary’s Workhouse 1801- 1803.

In the early 1800s, the ledger of St. Mary’s Workhouse in Dover chronicled the sombre reality of its inhabitants. This meticulous record paints a vivid picture of life and death within workhouse walls, listing names, ages, causes of death, and the meagre funds allocated for burials. From individuals ‘worn out’ by years of labour to those succumbing suddenly, each entry speaks volumes about the era’s hardships. It reveals tales of poverty, illness, and societal challenges faced by the underprivileged. This historical document not only registers the departed but also silently narrates the struggles and resilience of a forgotten populace in Dover’s history.

1801.
April.
Paid carrying Mrs. Wills to the ground 2/-.

June.
To Burials.
Mary Holyman aged 57 years. Brought in ill got better and died suddenly.
Jane Polling aged 56 years. Disorder many years. Worn out. 9/6d.

July.
Steven Simmons aged 66. Complained by pain.
Steven Dennis aged 50. Suddenly. 15/-.

August.
The burial of a pauper out of house. 18/-.

September.
Martha Hampton 72 years old.
Burial for Brett out of house £1-7s-0d.
To Mr. Moys as per bill £1-6s-0d.

October.
To burials as for No. 6. 7/6d.
To funeral for Brett 4/2d.
To Castle Bell for No. 9. £1-6s-0d.

November.
To burial of Thomas Hodgeman aged 63 years. Catched his death under the hedges.

December.
To carrying Hanson to the ground and Hodgeman.
Burial fee Elizabeth Anson and affidavit 10/6.
Elizabeth Anson aged 34 years. Venereal.
To burial of Ann Parr 9/-.

Deaths 1802.
January.
To two strangers 10/-.
To Mr. Mays for coffins. £2-2s-0d.
To burial fees and affidavit and carrying Jenkins to the ground
To Mr. Friend as per bill No. 6. 18/6.

February.
Hester Stalkart 56 years. An abscess in her side.
John Shrewsbury 3 years. Consumption.
Priscilla Simmons aged 65.
To cash for burials as by governors No. 6. 12/6d.
To Ashman and poor 4/6d

March.
To cash for burials as per No. 6. 15/-.
To cash for coffins as per bill £1-5s-6d.
George Marsh aged 75 years. Died of a fracture and an abscess in his thigh.
To burial of out poor. 8/9d.

April.
Funeral expenses for several out poor as per No. 6. 18/-.

May.
To amount to coffins £2-12s-0d.

June.
To amount as per bill coffins 18/-.
To amount as per governors No. 6. Strangers. 7/6d.

July.
Mary Dobbins aged 53 years. An obstruction.
Burial fees and carrying to the ground. 9/-.
To a coffin No. 9. 13/-

August.
To burying a stranger 7/6d
To a coffin for a stranger 11/3d.

September.
To coffins as per No. 9. 15/9d.
To burying a traveler 4/6d.
To burying Mr. Smithett aged 84. Worn out 8/-.

October.
To coffins as per No. 9. £1-9s-10d.

December.
To burials of vagrants found dead. 13/-.
To burials as No. 9 coffins for vagrants found dead £1-2s-6d.

Deaths 1803.
January.
To carrying a stranger to the ground 2/6d.
To burial a stranger 5/6d.

February.
Mrs. Vincent of a cancer.
Mary Simmons a lunatic.
Burial fees and affidavit 5/6d.
Carrying her to the ground 2/6d.
To coffins as per bill No. 9. £2-5s-0d.

March.
Ann Anderson aged 69. The catarrh and cold weather.
John Fish aged 62. Dropsy.

April.
To funeral expenses 16/-
To coffins as per No. 9. £1-5s-6d.
To burial of a stranger name unknown 6/6d
To burial of Castle 14/-.

June.
To a coffin for a man. 9/-.

July.
To burial of Elizabeth Morrison an out poor. 7/6d.

August.
Susanna Hopper aged 75. Died suddenly in the sheet.
Coffin for above £1-4s-0d.

September.
To burial of Hopper. 9/-.
To burial as for No. 6. 9/-.

November.
Thomas Brown aged 83 years. Childish old age and drinking many years.