On looking at the Shropshire Burials section on Find My Past I find that my grandmother's brother, Thomas LELLO, 1879-1886, has a note in the margin 'Drowned at Honey Meadow'. The Burial was 7th July 1886, age 7 at Bayston Hill.
The LELLO family were living at Vicarage Lane in the 1881 Census but I don't know if they had moved.
I can't find any newspaper report on the incident or, either the Meadow or Vicarage Lane on any present day maps.
Any thoughts please?
Kathleen
Hello Kathleen
Since writing the above I have made more progress with your query thanks to a prompt from a friend.
Having looked again at the Secret Shropshire web site I have realised there is a page for Bayston Hill on which you will see two thumbnails of maps - one showing most of the parish which is very difficult to read and one showing an enlargement in the immediate vicinity of Bayston Hill. If you click on the latter one then click 'Zoom to Detail' below the image it will take you to a new screen where you can click the plus '+' sign to zoom in. Find the name 'Bayston Hill' in the middle then look to the right past 'The Berries' and 'Berry Leasow' and you will see 'Honey Meadow'.
This gives us the precise location but it only tells us half the story and is not easy to understand because the railway is not shown. By locating the field named Honey Meadow on the Ordnance Survey map of the 1880's (which shows the railway) it is clear that the northern edge of Honey Meadow joined an area of water, possibly a large pond or small lake, which must be significant in the circumstances. When you have read this I will email you a piece of map clearly showing the location you want.
In my previous message I mentioned that the Inquest referred to St Julian's parish but I can't understand why that is so unless the child was moved from Honey Meadow before he was pronounced dead. The Inquest should have been held where the death occurred, or at least where it was confirmed, and note that it will have taken place with a day or two of the death not weeks later like they are now.
Remember, the newspapers are your best source of information as to the circumstances of his death but you will have to visit Shropshire Archives or the Newspaper Library in London to see them.
Mike
Thank you so much Michael. As usual you come up with very helpful information. I have
noted all you have said and will look into doing more research in the near future.
Kathleen.
Michael, I have looked on the Secret Shropshire site and found Honey Meadow on both maps. The first map shows the railway, the second a little clearer but no railway.
I was interested to see the position of the field as, given that they must have lived near the church, the way across these fields lead to Bomere Farm where the childs grandparents, Jones, lived. (Bomere Lake was on their land) Therefore it is possible the child was going to visit and an incident happened.
Strange how we can invent a whole story from a snippet of information!
Thank you again, K
For those who may be interested in this little story:
With advice from Michael I now know a little more.
a) There was a pond in Honey Meadow. b) The first week of July 1886 was very hot 86-89 degrees f. c) Having obtained the death certificate for Thomas, it states "Accidentally drowned whilst bathing"
However, it also states: Certificate declined from R. Edward Clacke Coroner for Ford Division of Shropshire, inquest 6th July 1886.
So, little Thomas must have died on the 5th, an inquest held locally on 6th and was buried on 7th.
A further inquest was held some weeks later for which I will visit Shrewsbury Archives to read.
Kathleen.
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Hello Kathleen
Looking in the Shropshire Quarter Sessions Index 1831-1920 (available on CD-Rom from the Society - see page 30 of this PDF file) there was an inquest into the death of Thomas LELLO in the Oct quarter of 1886 Ref: QR570 Item 223 Ext 01. If you visit Shropshire Archives you will be able to see a report of the inquest using this reference number. It will probably only give you an outline of the case so you will need to look at local newspapers of that time (probably a weekly paper) to get more details. You will probably need a reader's ticket to see the QS paper(s).
Whilst there are several places named Honey Meadow in Shropshire I can't find a reference for one near Bayston Hill but the Inquest reference tells us that it was in Shrewsbury Saint Julians parish. I would normally suggest that you need to look at the parish Field Name map which is derived from the Tithe Map. This usually has every field named on the map so you can work out exactly where it was but looking at the two St Julian maps on the Secret Shropshire web site there doesn't seem to be any sign of it although a few fields don't seem to be named so you might need to look at the parish Apportionment to check whether it is named there.
Mike