Did my ancestor really live to the age of 102?
QMy 3x great grandfather, Samuel Copeman, died on 6 April 1907 in Downham Market workhouse, apparently aged 102. However, finding a baptism for him has been difficult as his age and birthplace in the censuses vary enormously.
The record of his marriage to Elizabeth Bowers in 1843 gives his father as Samuel Kerridge, a labourer. Was he illegitimate? There is a baptism on 24 May 1818 in Wreningham All Saints for Samuel Charles son of Samuel and Mary Ann (late Copeman) Kerridge, husbandman. If this is my Samuel Copeman, it would mean he was only 88/ 89 when he died. Janice Thomson, by email
AThis could be your Samuel Copeman, as his family’s details match. Checking nearby Hilgay burials for his records may help. Post-1870 registers are held in the parish. Contact the district council for cemetery records. You might consider obtaining his death certificate from the local registrar in case of a mistake on the General Registry Office copy.
Being a centenarian was newsworthy, but there is nothing in the British Newspaper Collection on Findmypast. However Norfolk newspapers are underrepresented on this site, so I suggest revisiting.
Surviving Downham Union workhouse records at Norfolk Record Office (NRO) for when Samuel was resident include minute books dating from 1836, and admission and discharge registers from 1905. I checked the discharge register for 1907 (Ref. C/GP 5/99) and found his death noted. He was destitute when admitted from the parish of Hilgay, but no age or date of admission was given. I suggest searching the minute books in case they mention him.
There is no marriage for Samuel Kerridge and Mary Ann Copeman in the Norfolk Marriage Index, 1801–1837 (NFHS CD). I searched Wreningham baptismal registers at NRO from 1795 to 1830 for a Samuel Copeman or Kerridge. The only match is the one you’ve already found for 1818.
Although it does not specifically say that Mary Ann was single, Samuel was clearly illegitimate as the entry format for married couples was different. Unfortunately, there are no surviving bastardy records for Wreningham, but many cases were heard at the quarter sessions courts. To find out more about Samuel’s parents, search Wreningham registers, Poor Law records and census returns.