Sunday, October 21, 2012

Have your ancestors been resurrected?


Early in the 19th century many bodies were dug out of the fresh grave by Resurrection Men, who then sold the corpse to surgeons for dissection.

In 1823 James Finder noticed the bad smell coming from a cart passing through Harpenden. This proved to be the body of William Gilman, who had been resurrected from Dunstable churchyard.

In Hertfordshire William Gootheridge was buried in Codicote Churchyard in October 1824, only to be resurrected and reburied when the body was recovered.
Do you know of any other cases in Hertfordshire - I am sure there must have been many more.
The exhibition Doctors, Dissection and Resurrection Men has just opened at the Museum of London. [Review]
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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousOctober 21, 2012 at 6:27 PM

    Elizabeth Whitehead Hitchin 1828 see http://www.hertsmemories.org.uk/page_id__6665_path__0p34p109p.aspx

    There are other examples in Hertfordshire Countryside part 554 page 31-33 from June 2005 which may be in your collection. Anthony

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