Mary Ann Peek - burned in the street 1940?

[lrobo]

Hi

I am looking for information on my Great Great Grandmother. Her name was Mary Ann Peek, she was born in Merthyr, and died there in December 1940. My Grandmother told me Mary Ann had an awful death. Mary Ann had very long hair, she died after putting a piece of newspaper against the fire to draw the flames. Apparently, the paper and her hair caught fire and she ran out into the street, which made things worse and she died from her injuries. I think she lived in Corporation Street at this time. I live in Ireland so it is difficult for me to get information on this? I wondered if anyone would be able to help me? I don't even know her maiden name - she married a man called Phillip Peek in 1895. Thanks in advance.....

[mikemerthyr]

Hello Irobo

I am recording death obits out of the local newspaper will have a look to see if there is an accident report when the library opens after New Year,there should be a report but you can never be sure newspapers were reduced in the number of pages printed to help war effort so it might have not been reported?. I have found some information that is likely to be your G.G Grandmother,s marriage this is from records recorded out of Merthyr Tydfil Registrars books.
PHILLIP PEEK married MARY ANN (nee JONES) in ADULAM INDEPENDENT CHAPEL THOMASTOWN MERTHYR TYDFIL on 5th Nov 1894.
This is probably the marriage so her maiden name was JONES.
Happy NEW YEAR
Mike

[lrobo]

Wow Mike! It was really kind of you to look for this for me, and very much appreciated. I ordered the marriage cert after I posted, so I am just waiting for that to arrive. I must try and come to Merthyr some day, does that address still stand - 16 Corporation Street?
Happy New Year to you too

Lyndsey

[mikemerthyr]

Lyndsey CORPORATION STREET does still stand but I am not sure if all the houses are still standing or some might have be knocked into one.Try looking on GOOGLE maps street view.

Mike

[mikemerthyr]

Hello Lyndsey
I have some good news for you I found an inquest report in the local newspaper, it is on page 1 NOVEMBER 30th edition of MERTHYR EXPRESS. It says she lived at 23 CYFARTHFA LANE GEORGETOWN MERTHYR not CORPORATION STREET PENYDARREN and that she died on NOVEMBER 22nd at TYDFIL LODGE which was THE INFIRMARY later to become ST TYDFIL'S HOSPITAL. What I found unbelievable!!!! is that she was found in the street by my grandmother's husband LEWIS OWENS how incredible is that I never knew anything about it. I have found another piece of family history for myself as well. Could not find a funeral report though sorry! looked up until end of the year. The printer at the library was not working so could not get a copy to send to you.

Mike

[lrobo]

Woah Mike, how spooky is that!?

Thank you so much for taking the time to find this for me, it means such a lot. Is the paper still in existance? I wonder if I could get a copy from them?
I wonder if she is buried there in MerthyrTidfil? I honestly thought that this couldn't have happened and that the story had gathered some "legs" over the years.
I assumed that she lived in Corporation Street at the time of the incident as that was the last census return I could find her on, even though this was some time before her death.

Thanks again Mike, much appreciated. its amazing how these very small snippets of information can lead to great discoveries! I wish my Grandmother was still alive, so I could have shared this with her.

Lyndsey

[lrobo]

Hi Mike

Was just wondering, this death date is very different to the date I had of December 1940. Was the incident on the 22 November, and her death in December I wonder? I'm still waiting for her death certificate to arrive, do you think the war had some bearing on the accuracy of these documents?

Regards

Lyndsey

[mikemerthyr]

Hi Lyndsey
The newspaper is on reels of film in the library you could send them an email to get a copy I do not know their email address so you would need to goggle it how much they would charge you I also don't know. I will get a photocopy and see if I can send it to you by computer or get someone else to send it as I am not very good with computers.As to the difference with the dates,that is what it says in the paper perhaps she was buried in December the inquest might have taken longer than expected. I don't think the War would have any bearing to the report.It is likely she is buried in CEFN COED cemetery you could get in contact with Merthyr Council Cemetery department,they were letting you have one free search of their records but I think they are now charging for look ups?. By the way Cyfarthfa Lane was knocked down in the 1970's but there are photos of it on this website in the Georgetown area of Merthyr.
All the Best
Mike

[lrobo]

Thank you Mike.

I shall contact the library and see what they say. 

Kindest Regards 

Lyndsey

insert quote here

[lrobo]

I have e-mailed the library twice and I have spoken to the library regarding getting copies of these articles in the newspaper. When I called them they took my details
and said they would get back to me, I'm still waiting over a month later.
Does anyone have a direct number to contact the local studies department in the library? Or does anyone know of a local historian I could contact and pay to gather this information on my behalf?
I would go to Merthyr myself, but I don't live in the UK.
Thanks in advance

[mikemerthyr]

Irobo Here is the newspaper report , sorry for the delay.

Mike

[lrobo]

Mike

I hadn't realised this was here! Thank you so much for this x

Lyndsey