Death, Funerals & John Middleton

[SandySandilands]

My 4 x great grandfather died in 1852 (OPR) and was buried in Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh. Unfortunately, no headstone survives.

From the records at Dean Cemetery I know that the "funeral was organised by John Middleton" although I have yet to discover who this John Middleton was.

There was a John Middleton who was "surgeon, accoucheur and druggist" listed in the Edinburgh and Leith Trade Directory at the time. Would a doctor arrange the funeral of his patient or is it more likely that John Middleton was a family friend?

Anyone else come across this gentleman?

[SarahND]

Hello Sandy,
In the 1851 census there are 7 John Middletons in Edinburgh, only 4 of whom are old enough to be organizing a funeral. Do any of these ring a bell? The one you found in the directory is obviously the third one down.

House 13th, Edinburth St Cuthberts
John Middleton, 51, born Culross, Perthshire, Mason (journeyman)

247 Canongate, Edinburgh Canongate
John Middleton, 44, born Stonehaven, Kirkcudbrightshire, Printer's Pressman

12 Hill Place, Edinburgh St Cuthberts
John Middleton, 36, born Canongate, Edinburgh, MDE & LRCSE General Practitioner

Darling Buildg, Edinburgh St Cuthberts
John Middleton, 25, born Edinburgh, Miller

All the best,
Sarah

[SandySandilands]

Hi Sarah

None ring any bells but I shall certainly check them out. Thank you for your efforts and quick response

Sandy

[Currie]

Hello Sandy,

Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh), Saturday, March 20, 1858.
ODD-FELLOWS’ FRIENDLY SOCIETY, M.U.—The fifteenth anniversary of the Loyal Sir Ralph Abercromby Friendly Society and Lodge of Odd-Fellows, Manchester Unity, Drummond Street Hall, was celebrated on Thursday evening last, when a number of the members sat down to an excellent supper. The chair was ably filled by Dr John Middleton, surgeon and treasurer to the lodge; the vice-chair being occupied with equal ability by P. G. James Wilson. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were disposed of, the chairman proposed “Prosperity to the Loyal Sir Ralph Abercromby Lodge.” He very eloquently detailed the origin and progress of the society; and after giving an account of the sickness and funeral allowances granted during the last fifteen years, proceeded to state that the funded capital now amounted to upwards of L.1000, being a sufficient guarantee to the members of the soundness of the tables of rates compiled by William Wood, Esq., actuary of this city, for the benefit of the several Odd-Fellow lodges in this district. He concluded by adverting to the benevolent character of the society, and the influence it was calculated to have upon their social condition, contending that such influence could not fail of being beneficial, provided the principles of the Order were carried out. Various other appropriate toasts, with some excellent songs from Brothers Hutchison, Crichton, Wilson, and others, followed during the course of the evening, which was spent with much hilarity and good-feeling.

It sounds to me that your ancestor may have been a member of aforementioned Friendly Society and that whole or part of the funeral cost was paid by the Society.

Hope that’s right,
Alan

[SarahND]

Nice find, Alan!
Sounds like you tracked down the link between the two men.
Cheers,
Sarah

[SandySandilands]

Wow! What a fantastic find! Thank you, Alan

At the time of his death, Andrew was a "victual dealer" or grocer at 49 Hanover Street, Edinburgh. Strangely, he doesn't appear in the trade directory at that address although it is the one given on his burial entry in the records at St. Cuthberts and Dean Cemetery. In 1851 his address on the both the Census, as well as the OPR marriage for St. Cuthberts, is given as Dean Path and his occupation is quarryman.

I also have copies of trial papers for one Mary Guyick who was transported to Tasmania following her trial for fraud and the breaking into of lock fast places. Andrew Sandilands and his 2nd wife Mary Wallace were one of the victims of her gang. The trial papers (late 1852) give Andrew's occupation as "late victual dealer of 49 Hanover Street, Edinburgh" and state that Andrew's widow Mary was then living at the home a Rodham Catherine Davison Home, in Portobello. I always wondered what the connection with Home was, perhaps it was Oddfellows? On the otherhand, Rodham Catherine Davison Home was the cousin of another branch of the Sandilands family which I have not been able to fit mine into "records wise" - as yet.

Right... I'm off to google Oddfellows

[Currie]

Back again Sandy,

The NAS has some papers of the Friendly Society dated 1842. That must have been when it was getting organised. The title given there is “Loyal Sir Ralph Abercromby Friendly Society and Lodge (No. 3456) of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows Manchester Unity”

The Lodge’s statistics for c1852.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=ypk ... 22&f=false

In a Parliamentary Papers report dated 1912 Sir Ralph Abercromby Lodge (Edinburgh) is listed under Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, still with the same branch number, 3456. Registered Office was at 14, Forrest Road, Edinburgh. Established 1843, currently 222 members and £7,300 in funds.

“That order then had three new city lodges - Sir Ralph Abercromby No 3456, Excelsior No 6108, and Persevere No 7684. The Scottish Order of Oddfellows lodges combined together in 1912 to form the Scottish United Oddfellows Approved Society for the administration of national health business and they continued to do this until 1948. Their original insurance business was carried on as before until the 1980s when they finally had to close due to lack of new members.” http://rls.org.uk/database/record.php?u ... -001-351-L

Here are some stats on John Middleton. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=NuQ ... 22&f=false

Hope that’s useful,
Alan

[SandySandilands]

That's fantastic, Alan!

Can't thank you enough

Off to read all the links...