Genealogy Chat

I have been saddened to find that a close ancestor committed suicide in the mid 1920's. I don't think people were so understanding then and from memory I think this may have been an offence at that time. Has anybody come across this in their own research? Any background info would be much appreciated. I am even wondering if it would be possible to be buried in a churchyard, or where people may have been buried in these cases. Hope I have not upset anyone raising this, I realise it is a difficult subject.

Have you got their death cert? You will probably see it says something along the lines of "whilst of unsound mind". I think this was considered then less of an "offence".

You may well be able to find the newspaper article for the coroners hearing. It is sad but interesting to read your direct ancestors words as witnesses and also to get some idea of the background and the way they lived.

I have Just googled suicide in the 1920's and found an entry for someone who had been buried in a cemetery.It was during the first world war nad he had been a soldier
So probably yes in a public cemetery but no in a chuchyard because it would be consecrated ground

Bren

I have a cert from London 1911. Cause of death - collapse and coma following on Carbolic Acid poisoning. Suicide while insane.

She was aged 30 - from one old photo she was very attractive. - but she was single and pregnant. I don't know where she was buried.
Bernie

I found out from a researcher that my grandfather committed suicide he was classed as insane as he had been in and out of asylums for 10 years and I have just found out he is in a family grave but with no inscription on, yes it was very upsetting.Sheila

Suicide was considered a crime until 1961. Until then any one who attempted suicide could have been prosecuted,though they rarely were
Assisting in a suicide is still a crime(as in euthenasia)
Jane

I found that one of my relatives committed suicide. in the 20's. There was an inquest but the local coroners office had destroyed the records (They are under no obligation to hold the records that long) but the local library was very helpful and provided a copy of the local newspaper report on the inquest which provided a lot of detail. The person concerned was buried in a cemetry. Hope this helps

Thank you to you all for taking the time and trouble to reply.

Yes it is upsetting - surprisingly so when it is someone I have not actually met. Sheila, it was also my grandfather.

Heather you are right, it does say of unsound mind. I hope that was viewed better, for the family left behind particularly. I have managed to get excerpts from a newspaper report, which did throw light on the reasons why - employment and money problems.

Thank you Bren. I will try to find details of the nearest public cemetry to see if he is there.

Sara

Thank you Gavin - it looks like the cemetry is the place to look for him. I am glad you were able to find the newspaper report and that it helped with the facts.
Sara

Hi Sara

One thing I didn't mention was the shock, of all the sad things I've uncovered (not too many) it was the one that stopped me in my tracks, reading the certificate standing in the hall quite took my breath away even after all these years. Do see if you can find a newspaper report. In my case the coroner seemed quite harsh in his judgement as nobody actually saw what happened. All the best

Gavin

hi sara
i also got a death cert saying that in 1896 was of unsound mind she had cut her throat. i believe from being left with the children while her husband went of drinking then he would come home and beat her. the inquest was held at the local pub. a few months later they also lost there 9 year old daughter from burns while doing a play at the local church. how much bad luck can a family get
regards tina

Suicide was de-criminalised in 1960/61. They weren't allowed to be buried in consecrated ground. They no longer put 'of unsound mind' on the death cert.

It used to shock me there were so many suicides - but when you think about it - no social security, no samaritans, no anti depressive medications - no social housing.

I dont blame my Great Grandad, it must have been very difficult then to lose your business and no doubt everything you had worked for for 40 years. The shame back then of being bankrupt would have been a million times worse than now when so many people are always up to their eyes in debt.

But I do know what you mean when you say it took your breath away - it was the same for me. In fact I wasnt going to get his death cert but I was intrigued why in a line of men living to their 80s and even 90s this chap had died at the age of 56. It does hit you to read the words though.

A very kind soul then got me the newspaper report and it was sad and at the same time very interesting and enlightening to read the report of the case.

I too had a great grandmother who commited suicide her death certificate says died from having drunk a quantity of salts of lemon whilst in a state of temporary insanity. she was only 36 years old.
I have to say it was a terrible shock.
I have never been able to find anything more about it unfortunately for me the inquest was never reported in the papers and I have contacted every cemetry in the area and I have found no trace of her burial.
I then discovered to my horror that suicides bodies where often sent for medical research which came as an even bigger shock. I have no idea how to go about researching this subject.

Sue

My grandmother committed suicide in 1957. What makes it sad is that my Dad knew she was in that state of mind but his family took no notice of him when he told them the state she was in.

He got into the habit of locking away all the knives, bleach etc before he went to work but somehow my gran managed to get hold of a blade.

What makes it even worse is that Dad found her and she was still alive. She died 13 days later in hospital of pneumonia.

Have been away from the computer for a few days and was surprised to find all these replies.

Yes, it was a shock, although I must admit I half expected it. When I opened the envelope and saw the death certificate it did make me cry, both for him and for my dad's family, who I think must have been ashamed as they kept it a secret. What a weight for them all to carry around.

I discovered this and another family "skeleton" very soon after I started researching and it did make me stop for a while and think about what I was doing. When you are finding things out about close relatives that have been hidden for years it does feel voyeuristic. I am happier now that I am researching further back.

Thank you everybody who has replied. I am so glad that society is more understanding and open about this subject now, and that it is accepted that the victims deserve sympathy rather than condemnation.
Sara

suicide is very much still happening we have had 2 in our family in the last 10 years i sometimes wonder if its a gene

My maternal Grandfather committed suicide in the 1930's. His certificate is very specific.
"Poisoning by the inhilation of coal gas self administered whilst of unsound mind - Suicide"
No pm (No post mortem)

He had what would be called post traumatic stress disorder now, but was called shell shock then, and was a leftover effect from the first world war.

I always knew he had committed suicide, but I only recently obtained a copy of the certificate, and it was still a shock to read the statement on the certificate.

Martin