Billy

In my first sentence in the above it should read supposition, and not superstition,

This was a tragic event from over 150 years ago, and with respect to the people involved we must still be careful in our superstition.

In March of 1851 Catherine Morris had lost her child in a horrible fire, and in tragic circumstances. She was living with James Sones in Ipswich as man and wife. At the Inquest it was found that she had left her child, according to a witness, for maybe up to quarter of a hour. Further witnesses said they had heard nothing good or bad about Catherine, that Catherine was fond of the child and a good mother. Another that the parents were both fond of the child.

The jury’s verdict was that the child was accidentally burned, but they found unanimously that Catherine was guilty of great neglect for leaving the child as described. I cannot find any evidence to say that Catherine was drunk and incapable at the time of her child’s death, or indeed that she was an alcoholic and a prostitute

Thank you for the information, Pedro, most appreciated, I must admit I didn’t delve into the history of the lady involved – My main aim as a Wolverhampton historian was to give an insight into the places of interest in the story published by the two gentlemen credited with writing the story.

You will have to give me their names Jackie perhaps I may recall them.

Very interestinğ history of a log gone part of the town.Can you confirm if Montrose St was part of Carribbea İsland?

Hi Rosemary – All though Montrose Street was shown on the 1842 Wolverhampton Tithe Map there were only a few buildings at that time nothing much regarding housing. The slum district of Carribee was really limited to the area from Stafford Street east as far as Carbery Street (Westbury Street).

When my ancestors came over from Ireland during the famine, they came to Wolverhampton. Honoria Beattie gave birth to a son in the yard of the Dog and Partridge in Canal St.

If I may, I have recently published a book via YouCaxton of Oxford and Shrewsbury, called ‘Ironopolis – Standing Up For Wolverhampton’ – part of it is about analysing the ‘original Black Country’, but there are also detailed sections on Caribee Island and other sections of the town such as its very own ‘east end’ at Horsley Fields (the second’e’ was not used as in Horseley back then) and Monmore Green. In the 1800s Caribee Island was infamous and there are many reports about its appalling conditions gleaned from newspaper archives.

There are also detailed sections about coal-mining in the town (yes there was a lot of it), and also its vast iron industry. Around 500 pages in all, so it is quite detailed.

It is available from Amazon, though also I have some copies I am happy to deliver for free in the Wolverhampton area for a reduced £12. If you would like a copy, pls email me on mossnicholas@aol.com

Hi
I am looking for stories/photos of Bernard Salmon and his wife Mary McDermot. They were Irish and in Wolverhampton in the 1850’s. He left for New York in 1870 and died there four years later. She continued the scrap metal/rag and bone/metal refining business on Tower St until the 1930’s.

Love that old photograph of Lower Stafford street. And a great story too.

Great story Billy.

eplfantasy

Some things never change!!

Thanks Billy,conditions must have been dire,great photos.

Another mysterious fire, one of many to destroy historic buildings in Wolverhampton.
We must hold the record for suspicious fires.A great loss to this city,and its future generations.

Hi Ian thankyou for the comment, please
put your request on our Facebook group Lost Wolverhampton I am sure we can oblige with pictures of inside the Hippodrome.

Hi, Alan Nice one lovely to actually contact someone who was there at the time. I was away in the army at the time it happened. I would like to share your comment on my Facebook group.