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Photos of Wigan



Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

Photo-a-Day  (Saturday, 22nd February, 2020)

Jeanie's Headstone


Jeanie's Headstone
Wigan Parish Church Gardens.

Photo: Mick Byrne  (Panasonic DMC-TZ100)
Views: 2,493

Comment by: Anne on 22nd February 2020 at 07:32

Maybe "Jeanie with the light brown hair"?

Comment by: irene roberts on 22nd February 2020 at 09:52

I wonder who she was? The stone memorial reminds me of an anvil.

Comment by: Mick on 22nd February 2020 at 10:15

Every time I see it always wonder if she was the vicars old dog.
I think there might be a bit missing from the top.

Comment by: Veronica on 22nd February 2020 at 10:49

It looks to be missing a cross/ Angel or something similar. No doubt she came from a middle class family for her to have a stone memorial and to just have her Christian name. Perhaps Winnie will know how to find out who she was...she's always ready with her 'detective hat'! ;o)).

Comment by: Johnny on 22nd February 2020 at 12:04

You're almost right, Irene
That was Jeanie Scrimshaw, the first female blacksmith in England

Comment by: peebee on 22nd February 2020 at 12:23

'I love Jeanie'

Comment by: Veronica on 22nd February 2020 at 13:28

Mick I don't think they would put the family pet in sacred ground....Unless it belonged to the vicar and he buried it in the dark, unbeknownst to all and sundry!,,,;o))

Comment by: Vic on 22nd February 2020 at 14:56

Scrimshaw refers to the whale bone, teeth etc. that was carved by mariners.

As Mick says, could well be a former vicars pet, either dog or cat, maybe the church mouser, seeing there's no surname or date of birth.

Comment by: Josie on 22nd February 2020 at 21:00

Likely a Woodcock (Bankers) female. "Jane" pet name Jeannie? died Nov 1854. Someone could obviously afford a memorial. Likely? the rest of the stones were cleared, but that having a toff historical importance considered on a higher level that the others surrounding? of more importance even in death? Oh the fawning snobbery.

Comment by: Roy on 23rd February 2020 at 01:22

Correct Josie, she was buried 27/11/1854. Henry Woodcock, her husband was a private banker, they lived in Bank House on Wigan Lane, they had 6 daughters in 9 years (no wonder she died at the age of 38) They had 8 servants including a butler and a groom.

Comment by: Veronica on 23rd February 2020 at 11:02

At the same time why would they not bury her in a style she was accustomed to if money was no object, for a beloved wife and mother.
Interesting information, even though she bore 6 children and the toll It took on her body, all the help with servants couldn't assuage that problem in those days, in line with much poorer women who bore even more children and still worked.

Comment by: Veronica on 23rd February 2020 at 12:46

My maternal grandmother died aged 37 yrs after bearing 6 girls on New Year's Eve 1937, it was still happening at that time. No distinction between rich or poor on the bodies of women in those times. She does have a headstone as poor as they were, probably paid for by her own father I would think. Pauper's graves were the lot of many, my own family included. It's heartbreaking to find graves with no headstone, especially if they served in the 1st WW as in the case of my paternal grandfather, and many others.

Comment by: winnie on 23rd February 2020 at 16:19

Name: Henry Woodcock
Age: 37
Estimated birth year: abt 1814
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Jane Woodcock
Gender: Male
Where born: Wigan, Lancashire, England Household Members:
Name Age
Henry Woodcock 37
Jane Woodcock 35
Lucy Jane Woodcock 9
Agnes Woodcock 8
Evinlda Mary Woodcock 5
Agatha Maude Woodcock 3
Silver Francis Ann Woodcock 2
Mabel Elizabeth Woodcock 1
Prudiga Judd 25
Ellen Spibey 34
Mary Backer 27
Ann Knowler 22
Jane Leer 16
Elizabeth Coglan 19
Mary Ashcroft 24
Edward Goodson 30

Comment by: winnie on 23rd February 2020 at 16:19

https://archives.wigan.gov.uk/archive/civic-histories/wigan-civic/woodcock-henry

Comment by: Roy on 23rd February 2020 at 18:04

Veronica, a slip of your fingers I do believe, your grandma must have had a hard time, giving birth to 6 girls on New Years Eve, lol.
Sorry V I couldn't resist, no offence meant.

Comment by: Veronica on 23rd February 2020 at 19:28

I know Roy I noticed afterwards when it came on... I was hoping no one saw it!;o))

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