This is from a Bristol newspaper of 1770:
“Alexander Griffiths, who hanged himself in a cart house in Temple Back was agreeable to being buried on the crossway upon Totterdown with a stake drove through his body. But a story that a woman he had been associated with had sold his body for dissection, a mob arrived and grew very riotous, threw dirt and insisted on the coffin being opened to see if the body was there. The officer was obliged to comply and they found the body entire, after which they suffered the officer to discharge his duty unmolested.
How could he have been agreeable?
Perhaps they used a medium of communication to get his approval? You might get the joke hidden within
I have no idea. Maybe they just assumed it. I have been told that in Ireland suicide is a crime, but as the perpetrator cannot attend court, there is never a convicion hence suicide never happens. seems strangely irish logic. no idea if it’s true or ever was.
On Thu, Feb 21, 2013 at 8:35 PM, texthistory
funny. but what I want to know, was there a stake through him?
Yes. this was standard practice I think until 19th century. i think in this case, to make sure he wasn’t resurrected rather than vampire risk. I think it’s aabout anglicans getting the old church rules confused.
On Fri, Feb 22, 2013 at 1:00 PM, texthistory
How, indeed. And with such corpse exactitude!
Not sure which crossroads they refer to – 3 lamps maybe?
On Fri, Feb 22, 2013 at 8:03 PM, texthistory
The term “on the crossway” is a curious one, as (according to maps) there were no “crossroads” as such anywhere in Totterdown until 1880s development. So, my guess would be the same as yours, i.e. the Three Lamps junction – a short distance north of where the Bath/Wells fingerpost is currently situated. Perhaps this is a site where other burials took place of criminals who were executed by hanging at “the bush” nearby?
My impression was that the region was then part of somerset, so all udicial stuff happened at Ilchester. I’ve read of a few other burials at the crossroadc, but not of any hangings
On Sat, Feb 23, 2013 at 4:20 PM, texthistory