General Chat

Anyone who has looked up death records during the 19th century cannot fail to be shocked at the number of infant deaths which happened during those years. However I came across a name which really had a very unfortunate record. There were 26 deaths of Arthur Rawlinson recorded from 1870 to 1900. Of these 16 were aged 0 years, a futher 5 died under the age of 10 and the oldest death recorded was 22 years. The average age of Arthur Rawlinson was just 3.1 years!

Until midwifery became a proper trained job, deaths of infants were frequent. Even in my mothers day, the thirties, women expected to lose at least one child.

My great grandmother named a child Leanora, died within the year. Her son my grandad named his child Leanora died within a month. These were unknown to me I wanted to name my first daughter Leanora, my mother freaked out said don't use that name unlucky in our family.
Carol

Oh dear Carol.
I wasn't expected to live (6 weeks premature, jaundiced etc), so, for some unknown reason, my mum named me after my gran's sister - the one who died aged 4!!!

My brother died at only 4 hours old. When father remarried following a divorce from my mother he named his son with the same name, I think it was cruel to do so.

Bridget

My Great x3 Grandmother was unlucky she had 9 children and only 3 survived.