Letter Next to Names on Lancashire, England Burial Records in late 1700s-early 1800s
Between the name of the burial person and their city is a single capital letter. There is no key as to what this single letter means. Does anyone have a clue? Attached is the image of the record & the link: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2478/records/4421284?tid=184765873&pid=232663356888&ssrc=pt
Answers
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The page in question is from the Register of Burials 1794 - 1812 St Peter and St Paul, Ormskirk, Lancashire
These records are searchable also on the Lancashire Online Parish Clerks database (www.lan-opc.org.uk)
I have looked at the letters, the frequency, the relationship to the deceased and place of abode, and can find no sensible correlation.
My initial guess was that these letters might possibly refer to the gravedigger, recorded so that the church may calculate how much to pay them. The problem with this hypothesis is that there are 14 different letters on this page alone, a lot of gravediggers, so it's unlikely to be that.
Sorry I can't be of any real help. For the time being It remains a mystery.
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Lan-OPC might be able to answer the question. I've found them very quick to respond when I've had a question about a family listed in their database.
There appears to be a correlation between the letter and the first letter of the surname of the deceased.
Maddock M
Eastham E
Mercer M
Bromley B
Parr PMy best guess is that this list of burials is a cross-index by date. There may be more details in the parish registers by family name.
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