Genealogy Chat

Hi! I am trying to find out where my grandad was buried or cremated. He died on 21/12/1966 at the Churchill Hospital Oxford. He lived in Cirencester. I have rang the local council for Cirencester and they said it would cost £60 for them to access the record. Does anyone know of any websites that might hold this information as although i don't might paying £60 is a bit steep! Thanks Elainexxxxx

You could try the NBI (National Burial Index) someone on here probably has it or try your local library, mine has it. Otherwise I would look for cemetaries around the hospital where he died, or around where he lived and contact them direct. They will probably be a bit more helpful

Hi! Thanks for the advice. I have been in touch with the library at Cirencester and they told me that the Council hold all the records. When i rang them and they told me it would cost £60 they did tell me i could probably access the record on the internet but i haven't had any luck so far. I have rang the two crematoriums in the area but with no luck.. I am planning on visiting Cirencester at the weekend, so if all else fails i will be spending my time trawling the graveyards to try and find where he is buried. Thanks again. Elainexxxxx

Could there have been a death notice in the local paper? If so, it will probably say where he was to be buried.

Hi! I already have the obituary from the local paper, unfortunately it doesn't say where the funeral was or where he was buried.I am really stuck as to how to find out where he was buried. Thanks for replying and trying to help, i really do appreciate any advice. Elainexxxx

Hi Elaine

If you'd like to post his name I'd be happy to look on the NBI that's on Find My Past. I don't know how late it goes but their are some 1960 records on, it varies from area to area.

Regards
LfW

Hi! Thankyou so much for offering to look up on the NBI. His name is Joseph Henry Elliott , date of death 21/12/1966. He lived in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Thanks again for offering to look this up i really do appreciate it. Elainexxxxxxx

Could he have left a will, which may have specified where he wanted to be buried.

Hi! I have no idea whether he left a will or not and i wouldn't know how to find out if he did. If you know how to find out about wills i would be grateful for any information you have. Thanks again. Elainexxxxxxx

You need to look at the National Probate Index which may be available at your Local archives office or local studies library or local probate office. If he did leave a will, this will just give you the basics - name, where died, address, executors, value of estate. You would need a copy of the actual will to see the detail.

Hi! Thankyou so much for the advice on obtaining the details of a will. If all else fails i will look at going down this route to find out where he is buried. Thanks again for your help. Elainexxxxxxxx

Hi Elaine

Sorry I can't see him on Find My Past :-( If you don't find it another way it may be worth checking again at a later date as they are constantly adding records.

Regards
LfW

Hi! Thankyou so much for looking for me i will keep trying, looks like i will spending the weekend looking around the two cemeteries! Thanks again, i really appreciate all the help you have given. Elainexxxxxxx

What about his local parish church churchyard? If you know his address it may be worth contacting the vicar. Just a thought.

Elaine,I also have the NBI on CD, he is not there (but nor is anyone else in my experience!).

If died in 1966 he is likely to be buried in a municipal cemetery. Charging £60 for a search is obscene. The cemetery in Macclesfield does it for free, and I have sent a donation to the local hospice cos they found me about 30 people in their graves.

Ask Cirencester if it would be cheaper for someone on this site to nip along to the office and access the register in person. I bet someone will do it for you.

Good luck

Margaret

Hi Elaine

Had another thought, have you tried contacting the local FHS, they may have access to the parish burial register for transcription. FMP are not only using the NBI they are also making available parish records which are being transcribed by local FHS. Is their a Friends of ??? Cemetery. A lot of cemeteries have this sort of thing now and they often do guided walks round the older parts of the cemetery and may have access to more recent burial registers.

Gloucestershire Family History Society
http://www.gfhs.org.uk/

Regards
LfW

H! Thankyou to everyone who has replied to my thread. I have tried everything that has been suggested, apart from trying to access the will. It seems that the only place that holds the records for Cirencester cematarys is the local council and whether or not someone goes in person to access the record it will still cost £60.As i am planning a trip to Cirencester i will just have to go grave hunting! in the hope that i will find it. Thanks again everyone for trying to help. Elainexxxxx

Hi - did you say you had a copy of the obituary? does it mention the funeral directors concerned? if it does it's worth giving them a ring, as they should have details of the funeral and (if it was a burial, and the grave had been used before) they might even have the grave number on file in their day book.

Good luck.


Jac XX

Hi! Jac,unfortunately the obituary only gives the detail of his death it doesn't give any details of the funeral. Thanks for trying to help me. I have been told by the lady at Cirencester library that he is most likely to be buried in Chesterton or Stratton cemetary in Cirencester so the only way round it is to look for myself. Thanks again. Elainexxxxx