|
a.
|
Note: The Death and Burial of Henry William Fullagar 1882. We have concluded that the Henry William Fullagar who died in St Louis MO 11th February 1882 age 57, whose obituary was published in St Louis MO 13th February 1882, whose death was registered in Madison County IL as 24th February 1882 age 62, who is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Alton IL (Henry Fullagar 1820-1882) and whose Will was proved 20th March 1882 when the date of his death was given as about 10th March 1882, was one and the same man.
We have some clues to his character. In his Will made out in 1872, he spent a lot of time trying to control his wife`s behaviour after his death. Rosana Fullagar widow could spend his personal property for herself but must not touch the real estate element. If she had the audacity to marry again, she would lose everything and three of their children would get an equal share of the estate remaining. They would get this on her death. One daughter, Marian Elizabeth, was to get nothing as she had married a certain John Still without his permission. If she divorced him or he had the good grace to die before Henry William or his wife Rosanna she would then qualify for an equal share with her three siblings. His other daughter, Lillian Fullagar, never married.
Henry seemed to be concerned about his age as he grew older. In the 1870 Census he gave it as 50 but in the 1880 Census it was 56
The Missouri Death Records and Burial Certificate record Henry`s age as 57 and say he was born in Illinois. His occupation was farmer. He died at 2520 Broadway, Ward 6, St Louis MO of pneumonia where he had been staying for three weeks. A picture in the Illustrated London News of 1858 showed Broadway as a lively mix of hotels and shops.
A physician, Dr William J. Baker certified his death. He was to be buried in Godfrey IL. The name of the undertaker to whom the body was to be entrusted was "Friends". If, as we conclude, this was Henry William Fullagar born in Woodchurch in 1820, his age was younger by five years and he was not born in Illinois.
Was this the information he had given whoever he was staying with at 2520 Broadway? Was he trying to impress someone in St Louis that he was younger than he really was? Was he in St Louis trying to sell his farm produce when a sudden attack of pneumonia killed him? Did his friends in St Louis know enough about him to know where to take his body? Twice the documents state that his body was to be entrusted to "Friends" and twice it was written in these official documents that he was to be buried in Godfrey IL. Did his friends know enough about him to decide where to take the body? There is no burial of a Henry Fullagar in Godfrey IL Cemetery. We were unable to read the newspaper obituary published 13th Feb 1882 which might have answered some of these questions.
His body was taken from St Louis across the Missouri to Alton by his friends where his was buried. His grave survives. His Will was proved on 20th March 1882.
Was the removal of his body by his friends from one state to another illegal. Was his stay in St Louis perfectly legitimate? Are the inconsistencies, attempts by all concerned to "muddy the waters"?
Robert & Pat Chown 31 Jan 2020
|
