Every day during the course of our research we come across some strange entries. Some relate to births, marriages, deaths and others to burials but this one made us look a little further into what we had found !!!
Whilst searching through one of the many cemetery burial registers we came across an entry that intrigued us and started us looking for more information and answers.
So the story goes that John Frederick Bramwell was injured and got gangrene in his leg so had to have it amputated.
He then purchased a grave to bury his leg in so that later in life he could be reunited and be whole in the afterlife !!!
Unfortunately as we discovered from our research his leg was buried in a “Public Grave” in West Derby Cemetery and he was later buried in a “Private Grave owned by his wife, in Toxteth Park Cemetery so the tale and plan for interment with his leg was sadly just a story.
Heres a brief account of his life and death.
John Frederick Bramwell 1858 – 1909
John Frederick Bramwell was born 9 September 1858 in Preston, Lancashire, he was the 3rd of eight children his parents, William Storey Bramwell, and Eleanor Watson had, they were both 23 when he was born. He married Emily Spencer on 12 November 1879. They had three children Frederick Stanley, Herbert Spencer and Frank Watson. He died on 17 September 1909 at the age of 51 of complications following the amputation of his leg.
Birth – 9 Sep 1858 • Preston, Lancashire, England
John Frederick Bramwell was born in September 1858 in Meadow Street, Preston, Lancashire, to Eleanor Watson, age 23, and William Storey Bramwell, age 23.
Baptism – 17 Oct 1858 • Saint John Church, Church Street, Preston, Lancashire, England
Residence – 7 Apr 1861 – Aged 2 • 39 Meadow Street, Preston, Lancashire, England
From the 1861 census, we found John Frederick Bramwell lived in Preston, Lancashire, on 7 April 1861.
Relation to Head: Son
Residence – 2 Apr 1871 – Aged 12 • 46 Hudson Street, Preston, Lancashire, England
From the 1871 census, we found John Frederick Bramwell lived in Preston, Lancashire, on 2 April 1871.
Relation to Head: Son
Residence – 11 Nov 1879 – Aged 21 • Duke Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Marital Status: Single. Occupation, Clerk.
Marriage – 12 Nov 1879 • St Peter C of E Parish Church, Church Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
John Frederick Bramwell married Emily Spencer on 12 November 1879 when he was 21 years old.
Service performed according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns by, W R Duncan, Curate. Witnessed by Joseph & Elizabeth Ashton. BMD Liverpool, Vol 8b, Page 231.
Residence – 3 Apr 1881 • 9 Scourfield Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
From the 1881 census, we found John Frederick Bramwell lived in Preston, Lancashire, on 3 April 1881.
Marital Status: Married; Relationship to Head: Head. Occupation, Warehouse Clerk.
Residence – 1884-1885 • 26 Clint Road, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
John Frederick Bramwell lived in Liverpool, Lancashire, in 1884.
Residence – 1900 – Aged 42 • Durning Hotel, 2 Durning Road and 149 Wavertree Road, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Residence 31 March 1901 – Aged 42 • 149 Wavertree Road, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
From the 1901 census, we found John Frederick Bramwell lived in Preston, Lancashire, on 31 March 1901.
Relation to Head of House: Head. Occupation, Licensed Victualler.
Amputation of his leg. 12 Sept 1909 – Aged 51
So far we have not been able to find which hospital he had his leg amputated in, we are guessing it was probably the Southern Hospital, Liverpool (but the records were not saved).
12 Sep 1909 • Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Burial of his leg !!! 14 Sep 1909.
Burial 14 Sep 1909 • West Derby Cemetery, Lower House Lane, Liverpool, Lancashire, England The Amputated Leg of John Frederick Bramwell. Buried in a Public Grave, General Section, Grave No. 4653.
14 Sep 1909 • West Derby Cemetery, Lower House Lane, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Death 17 Sep 1909 • Durning Hotel, 149 Wavertree Road, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
John Frederick Bramwell died on 17 September 1909 when he was 51 years old.
Cause of Death, Gangrene of the foot causing need for Amputation of the leg, secondary cause Exhaustion. Certified by J. E. Scott L.R.C.P.M. BMD West Derby, Vol 8b, Page 339.
Burial 19 Sep – Age 51 – • Toxteth Park Cemetery, Smithdown Road, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Buried in a Private Grave, Section L, Grave No. 155. His wife Emily was later buried in the same grave on 26 Sep 1947
Probate – 9 Oct 1909 • Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Administration Liverpool, to Emily Bramwell Widow. Effects £1059 1s. 5d.
Well we hope you enjoyed this story.
It certainly made us all chuckle, I hope it raises a smile with you as well.
Coming soon yet another amputated leg and another interesting story!!!
Who knows where your research into genealogy and family history research will take you this year.
There are many new families and stories to research for new and existing customers.
We often get asked how long it takes to finish building a family tree?
The answer is that it is a never-ending story, for every loss in a family there are new arrivals, be it through marriage or birth the family history keeps on growing day by day.
Every week new record sets become available, some online through the many different sites others become available as the 50 or 100-year closed record rule expires.
Needless to say, we will as always have plenty to keep our team busy and I am sure we will answer many more questions about peoples families and past.
