17 Apr 2021

Today I received some more death certificates from the GRO.

The first was for Elizabeth Hinksman whose death from falling down stairs I found reported in the newspaper a few days ago:

Death at Knight Memorial Hospital, Blyth, U.D. on 13 February 1937 of Elizabeth Peak, female, 74 years of 124 Hambledon Street, Blyth, U.D. Widow of Thomas Turner Peak a Shipyard Boilermaker. Cause of death was 1(a). Influenzal pneumonia 11. Reflex pulmonary collapse due to a fall downstairs. The informant was John Lamberth, Son-in-law, 124 Hanbledon Street, Blyth. Registered on 17 February 1937.

The second was John Booty Brookes, the illegitimate son of Rebecca Brooks’ sister Eliza (who then married a John Booty).

Death at Mendham, Suffolk on 16 July 1844 of John Booty Brookes, male, 21 years, a yeoman. The cause of death was paralysis. The informant was B.J. Crisp, surgeon in attendance, Harleston. Registered on 17 July 1844.

Unfortunately this doesn’t tell us much more about John. I had wondered if there was a link with this death, the death of his stepfather William Squire the same year and the sale of James Brooks farm stock the following year but it doesn’t appear there is.