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But would they be willing to share what they have or will they plead data protection despite it being old records that we would be interested in?

I might just see if I can find an email address and raise the question.

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Mel

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That's exactly what I thought - they are not public records, but anything coming up to 100 years can hardly be of any importance now other than history. Surely, somebody else must have thought of using this line of enquiry.

I have emailed Co-op funerals. I don't like their contact form. They want to know date of birth as well as address and phone number and email. I can understand the need for email but not the other stuff other than to sell on for junk mail. I didn't give my number, just a series of random numbers - hope no one gets spam phone calls in the name I used! Also didn't give my d.o.b. Gave a random date!

Anyway, message reads

A friend and I were recently discussing resources for genealogical use and funeral directors came up. As stated on your website, your funeral service has been in existence for over 100 years. Do you hold records from the past (I am thinking of 100 years or more) or would they have been destroyed? Also, if you do still hold them, would they be of use or even available to genealogists?

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Mel

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Good letter, look forward to the reply.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

I have found that sometimes families are buried together ,ie a husband and wife are not in the same grave .The wife may be with her parents if you know where thay are buried .It was I think sometimes a question of a space, as Burial ground was expensive .Looking at grave stones tells us such a lot. Bar 22

You're right there Bar 22. What a shame all gravestones don't carry the detailed information found on some. I transcribed a grave for the site the other day that simply named 2 members of a family and said 'buried near here'. I think there was a date thought so perhaps a message to the Church Secretary might give a plot for any interested family.

I think what I would like to know from funeral directors is the detail of who organised the funeral and perhaps, at a push, how it might have been paid for. The organiser could be a daughter whose married name I don't know, or perhaps if the deceased was childless - well who knows?
As for the payment, I'm interested in knowing how wealthy various families were. Did they have a paupers funeral or did they have some sort of policy that paid for the burial.

I suppose, looking at this trail of thought - would stonemasons have kept records too? In older graveyards, many stones are now missing but would a stonemason be able to say if there was originally a stone on a grave?

I think there could be so much we could learn about our ancestors lifestyles if these businesses do hold records.

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Mel

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I can remember, and I know someone on here will come up with the name, BUT, people used to pay X amount a week to a guy who came round and that paid for their funeral------was it the man from the Pru???

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Nan used to have Liverpool Victoria here in SoT

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Mel

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No it wasn't that.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

No response from the Co-op.

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!