Cholera – Some Exeter Deaths

Of the people who died of cholera in Exeter in 1832, there were twenty-five persons named or mentioned in obituaries in the local newspapers. It is difficult to draw many conclusions from this information as in many cases only names were supplied, sometimes alongside their age, occupation and/or address, however these other elements were not consistently given. From the information, which was supplied, many of those who died were tradespeople, butchers, bakers, printers, etc. Age ranges also vary from fourteen up to a Mr Thomas Avery who was eighty-six years old.

Those listed in the obituaries with addresses are also from a variety of different parishes in the city, something which is also visually shown in the cholera map included in Thomas Shapter’s The History of Cholera in Exeter in 1832. It is evident from the map that there were many more deaths from cholera which were not listed in the obituaries – people from poorer backgrounds may not have had the money or inclination to place the listing, as such the names of people in the newspapers may not be fully representative of the wider demographics of those who died.

Saturday, 18th August 1832
Thomas Thomas, esq. of Barnstaple (Aug 16) – 5 Northernhay Place
Mrs Granby Farrant of St Sidwell’s, wife of F. G. Farrant, Esq. of the 1st East Devon Militia (Aug 14)
Mr Edwin Dunn
Mr Wiliamm Richards, smith, Rocks Lane
Mr Philip Halfyard, confectioner
Mary, wife of Mr John Baker, printer
Mr J. Wheatley, printer
Mrs Hatch, wife of Thomas Hatch, ironmonger and haberdasher
Mr John Bennet, dairyman, Friars
Dorothy, widow of late Mr Richard England, butcher, Milk Lane
Mrs Ganniclift, wife of Mr Ganniclift, of St. Edmunds Mr Benjamin Froom, common carrier, Castle Street
Mr John Sparke, butcher

Miss Elizabeth Ford, daughter-in-law of Mr Griffey, tailor
Mr Griffey, tailor (Aug 18)
Two daughters and a son of Mr Debanks between 14 and 21 years old, Sun Lane

Saturday, 1st September
Mr Robert Avery, former serge-maker, St. Thomas, 86 years old
‘On Sunday last in this city’, Mrs. Cornish, mother of Mr Cornish, agent
‘On Thursday’ Mr James Richards, of Longbrook Street, 28 years old

Thursday, 6th September
Mr John Nicholls, broker, New Bridge Street, a member of the Commission of Improvement for the parish of Allhallows e on the Walls ‘On Saturday last’ Mrs Sarah Howard, of the Exeter Arms public-house, Bartholomew-Street (September 1st)

Saturday, 15th September
Mr T. Moxey, baker, Alphington, 52 years old

Thursday, 18th October
‘On the 22nd of August last’, John Vicary, 68 years old, vendor of sweetmeats, Kekewich Place, St Sidwell’s

‘At a numerous and highly respectable MEETING of the PARISHONERS of St DAVID, assembled in VESTRY, this 23d Day of August 1832, It was resolved unanimously: That the thanks of this Parish are due, and are hereby given, to the RIGHT REV. DR PHILLPOTTS, LORD BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE, for having expressed his desire, (convinced of its necessity) to License several Spots of Ground, for the interment of Persons who may die of Cholera within the City of Exeter.

That the thanks of this Parish are also due, and hereby offered to the RIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR OF EXETER, the CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, for having expressed his opinion of the necessity of there being Cholera Burial Grounds in at least the Four Quarters of the City’.

That the thanks of this Parish are also due, and hereby tendered, to the CORPORATION OF THE POOR, of the CITY OF EXETER, for the sentiments expressed in the following Resolution, sent by them to the Board of Health, on the 16th instant, vis:-

“Resolved that the BOARD OF HEALTH be earnestly and respectfully requested immediately to procure, at least, Three other BURIAL PLACES, in the other Quarters of the City, for Persons Dying of Cholera”

That this Parish deeply regrets no other Piece of Ground but Bury Meadow has (that they are aware of) been yet selected for a Cholera Burial Ground, although the Disease has raged in Exeter for upwards of FIVE WEEKS.

That this Parish having learnt it is in contemplation to build a Cholera Hospital in, or near to, Little Bury Meadow, feel themselves called upon to remonstrate against the selection of that spot; and they suggest that every means and exertion should be taken by the Board of Health to purchase some Building or Building which may at once be converted into a Cholera Hospital, rather than risk the delay, and also encounter the very heavy additional expense which must be attendant on the erection of a Hospital for Cholera Patients.

That this Parish has always been willing that Little Bury Meadow should be appropriated as a Burial Ground for person Dying of Cholera in the North Ward, or Quarter of the City, and had every reason to anticipate that before this time some other place or places would have been selected by the Board of Health, for the three other Wards or Quarters, a communication having been made to this Parish, about a fortnight since from the Secretary to the Board of Health through Mr Robert Cornish, that although Little Bury Meadow was selected as the place for the immediate interment of person dying of Cholera, it was, nevertheless, the determination of the Board to appropriate other pieces of ground for the like purpose, without delay.

That the appropriation of ground within this Parish as a general Cemetery for all persons who may die of Cholera within this city. Is imposing on this Paris a serious and unjust grievance, whereby private property will not only become greatly depreciated in value, but the health, and even lives, of the parishioners of St David, be consequently greatly endangered.

That the reported disinclination on the part of the parishioners of St Sidwell to provide an additional Burial Place, is in opposition to the welfare of the City, and at variance with the recorded opinion of the constituted authorities. That the removal of Cholera

Bodies through crowed streets, from all the distant Quarters of the City, for the purpose of interment at one place only, must, be attended with danger to the public – is offensive and oppressive to the parishioners of Saint David -and not to be justified in such a City as Exeter.

That this Meeting most cordially supports the Resolution of the Corporation of the Poor, and deeply laments that the same does not appear to have been yet acted upon; and this meeting most earnestly and respectfully implores the Dean & Chapter, and the Mayor and Chamber of Exeter, immediately to cooperate with the Board of Health, and to provide other places of interment, on the present most distressing and awful occasion.

That the cordial thanks of this Parish be given to Mr BRUTTON and Mr FURLONG, for their valuable service and exertions on the part of the Parish: and they be now appointed joint Solicitors to parish.

That these Resolutions be printed and published, and copies transmitted to the Board of Health, the several constituted Authorities, and the Churchwardens of every parish in the city.

R. H. CHAMBERLAIN, Warden’