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OMG! - 39!
Thankyou all so much. We are visiting relatives later, the last few remaining to get it from the horse`s mouth so to speak to help us with the rest of the family.
Can i also ask where i can access old newspapers?
In my tree is Robert and Elizabeth whalley. My mums cousins. Aged 4 and 5 they went out to play and never returned. The police thought a travelling circus had taken them but their grandma insisted they would not be far from the house.
Anyway, the police eventually checked local and found an open drain. They took a rake to probe and felt something. When they lifted it up Robert and Elizabeth was on the rake holding hands. They believed gas fumes had caused them to fall in.
My mum has said that their grandma was in the paper prior to their little bodies being found.
Can i find the article? It is so sad.
Their mum never left the house again after that.
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God that is so sad Jane....
This came up when I googled but I'm sure there must be newspaper reports.
1939 May 25. - Inquest on Elizabeth Whalley (4) and Robert Whalley (5), brother and sister, of Ince, found drowned. - Monntain Mine of the Coppull Coal Company (formerly Birkacre Colliery) ceased work
Don't know if the mine bit has anything to do with it?
Hope you find what you are looking for.
Kind regards,
Cathy
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Sorry to hear about your Mum's cousins,
There was an article in The Times, Thursday, May 25, 1939; pg. 18; Issue 48314; col F which gives 5 lines reporting finding the bodies of these poor children.
If you send me your email I will send you a copy
Regards
Ian
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Thankyou so much for your help.
If i don`t reply straight away thrn please don`t think i am being ignorant it`s just when i am at work.
I stumbled across their grave totally out of the blue and have now cut the grass and brambles. That`s when i found the other baby who died aged 4 days. Apparently, auntie Francis wet nursed 2 other babies following her baby`s death.
Robert was apparently quite a `naughty` boy but having my 3rd son diagnosed with autism and ADD i wonder if little Robert perhaps had the same, had he been living now. Elizabeth was very quiet, would make Robert take sweets for her if they were offered. Total opposites.
I have a photo of my 3rd son and Robert and they are identical. If they were both black & white it would be uncanny.
The day they went to play they held hands and walked around their kitchen table saying the lord`s prayer.They had never done that before. They kissed their mum and walked out never to be seen alive again.
I will send my email now. Thankyou all so much.
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Hiya,
my mum as seen the article today that was sent to me. That was very emotional for us but at the same time feel we are putting their little lives in order which is totally what they deserve.
My mum also said that the article she was shown as a child had a quote from their grandma and it was in a local paper. Is that possible do you think or could she be confused? She can`t remember which papers were around in Wigan back then.
Sorry for being a pain and thankyou in advance for your help and support x.
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Hi Jane
glad I could help (sorry just changed my board name)
just wondering, have you tried The Museum of Wigan Life at www.wlct.org/Culture/Heritage/heritage.htm
if you look at www.wlct.org/culture/heritage/lhistory.htm has info on some newspapers held/ archived by them
or www.wiganworld.co.uk you can search their site and there is a forum there which might be useful to you
also if you go to www.wiganworld.co.uk/stuff/chronology10.php?opt=chrono&yr=1939
and scroll down to May 25th
regards
tempest aka ian
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Hiya,
wow that`s great, thankyou so much. Will keep you posted.
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Hiya,
wow that`s great, thankyou so much. Will keep you posted.
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