Bit of a mystery.

[emanday]

One of my rellies died of "British Cholera" at 144 Saltmarket, Glasgow in 1857. Although there are no parents entered the age and the occupation is right, as is the year (it's also the only one with his name/age to have died in that year).

The DC informant was described as an "Inmate".

I've tried to find out what 144 Saltmarket was at that time, but all references I've found seem to indicate a shop, mainly bookshops and or bookbinders/printers. However, the closest date for these is 1840 - too soon. The 1913 Valuation rolls (much too late) have it as a house.

The period in between seems to be a bit of a black hole. Can anyone help?

[Rab]

I found on this page that the High Court of Judiciary was located in Saltmarket Street. It could be your rellie was in the cells there I'm afraid but I'm only speculating due to the informant being an inmate.

[emanday]

Well then, Rab...

There's a thing, says I tae masel, so went off a googling and discovered that the High Court DID have cells "at the bottom" of Saltmarket. Thing is, I haven't a clue how the numbers run, or if 144 Saltmarket might be the cells/jail.

I did re-check the Valuation Rolls and realised that Saltmarket and Saltmarket Street are not the same, though next to each other, so the house I picked up on was in the street. The DC only says Saltmarket!

How do I find out if Daniel was a prisoner? Anyone know?

[nelmit]

Well then, Rab...

There's a thing, says I tae masel, so went off a googling and discovered that the High Court DID have cells "at the bottom" of Saltmarket. Thing is, I haven't a clue how the numbers run, or if 144 Saltmarket might be the cells/jail.

I did re-check the Valuation Rolls and realised that Saltmarket and Saltmarket Street are not the same, though next to each other, so the house I picked up on was in the street. The DC only says Saltmarket!

How do I find out if Daniel was a prisoner? Anyone know?

Hello,

I have informants as 'inmates' who were relatives of the deceased. In that context it only meant they lived in the same household. It has been discussed before on the board.
Although looking at a map of 1857 Saltmarket strongly suggests it was the High Court buildings I would have thought it would have been someone in an official capacity who would have registered the death.

Do you want to post the entry in the gallery?

Regards,
Annette M

[nelmit]

Hello again,

After looking at www.royalmail.co.uk and finding a 146 Saltmarket with a postcode of G1 5LB I think it probably was a residential address. It is two blocks north of the court.

Annette M

[emanday]

I've uploaded the image so waiting for admin to approve it.

Apparently there was also a building with 122 cells not in the court itself, but also in Saltmarket.

Anyone looking at the image - any idea what the difference is between British Cholera and any other type?
http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-753

image URL added by LesleyB

[Russell]

Hi Mary and anyone else interested.

As far as I can see there were Cholera pandemics in 1831-32, 1848-49, 1853-54 and anothe in 1857. All probably due to contaminated water supplies. In the cities wells and watercarts were the commonest sources and if a well was contaminated anyone using it was at risk.
Cholera was common in the Far East and was a killer. People were familiar with the disease through trade and military connections so to avoid panic over the fourth pandemic within quite a short few years it appeared some doctors labelled it 'British' rather than Asiatic.
There may be an element of a slightly less virulent form because of climatic conditions too.
John Snow in London became virtually the first epidemiologist by using statistics to isolate the well causing most deaths and stopping the epidemic in the area by the simple expedient of taking off the pump handle so nobody could use it

The things TS persuades you to find out

Russell

[sporran]

Hello Russell,


BBC ran an excellent series a year or two ago: "Seven wonders of the industrial world". One of them was about Joseph Bazalgette and the creation of the sewers in London. John Snow featured in that programme.

If you get a chance, see the series.


Regards,

John

[DavidWW]

There's also a book - The Great Stink of London: Sir Joseph Bazalgette and the Cleansing of the Victorian Metropolis. Amazon have the paperback on offer at £6.59.

David

[JimM]

How do I find out if Daniel was a prisoner? Anyone know?

Hi Mary
I'm sure that if your rellie was a prisoner, the DC would have stated so.


Jim