WCP’s Expertise Called on for Elizabeth Cookworthy Re-Interment

The funeral of a woman who died in the early 19th Century is being held in Plymouth next week.

The lead lined coffin of 70-year-old Elizabeth Cookworthy was discovered during the demolition of Bretonside bus station last year.

Her remains were originally buried in a Quaker cemetery at the site, which was cleared during building works in the 1950s.

Elizabeth, who died on October 9, 1833, will now be reinterred at Efford cemetery on Wednesday, February 7.

Investigations took place last December to find out more about the remains (Image: Sarah Waddington)

A bereavement notice for the funeral appeared in today’s (Wednesday, January 31) edition of The Herald.

The notice reads: “COOKWORTHY, ELIZABETH. Born 1763. Died 1833.

“Previously interred at Treville Street Burial Ground, Plymouth.

A bereavement notice for Elizabeth Cookworthy appeared in today’s (January 31) paper (Image: Millicent Cooke)

“A graveside service will take place at the Quaker Burial Ground, Efford cemetery on Wednesday, February 7 2018 at 10:30am.

“All Friends are welcome to attend.”

John Ware, assistant managing director at Walter C. Parson funeral directors, said he had been contacted by the developers in December last year.

Elizabeth’s coffin has been restored ahead of her re-internment next week (Image: Walter C. Parson)

He said: “They told us that they had discovered a coffin at the site in Bretonside and called on us for our expertise.

“Elizabeth’s coffin was then brought to our chapel of rest for safekeeping while arrangements were made for her to be reburied in an appropriate place.”

Local researchers had been trying to track down some of Elizabeth’s relatives, but as no one could be found, it was decided that her reinternment would be organised in association with the Plymouth Quaker society.

The lead-lined coffin of Elizabeth Cookworthy – who died 185 years ago – was initially thought to belong to the daughter of porcelain manufacturer and Quaker William Cookworthy.

The Quaker meeting house used to be on what was Treville Street

But it has now been revealed that Elizabeth was actually the widow of William’s grandson, who had the same name.

William did have a daughter named Elizabeth with his wife Sarah in 1743, but she sadly died when she was just six.

The coffin of 70-year-old Elizabeth Cookworthy was discovered during the demolition of Bretonside bus station last year.

The confusion over Elizabeth’s identity led to archaeologists mistakenly reporting that she was 90 years old when she died.

“Unfortunately, the poor lady was originally misidentified as William Cookworthy’s daughter,” a source told The Herald.

“There was a daughter called Elizabeth, but she died aged six in 1749.”

Elizabeth was of the wife of his William’s grandson, also called William Cookworthy, who was born in 1763.

They explained: “William had several daughters, one of who, Sarah, married Francis Fox.

“Their son William, born 1763, changed his surname from Fox to Cookworthy in honour of his grandfather.

“William Cookworthy (born 1763) married Tabitha Fox in 1783, and she died in 1790.

A coffin was found last December at the site in Bretonside

“He was married again in 1792 to his second wife Elizabeth Howard, who was a Londoner.

“She is the woman who is being reinterred.”

They added: “William had no children by either wife, so there are no descendants.”

Elizabeth, who died on October 9, 1833, will be reinterred at Efford cemetery on Wednesday, February 7.

Her remains were originally buried in a Quaker cemetery at the site, which was cleared during building works in the 1950s.

Elizabeth’s coffin was then taken to the Walter C. Parson chapel of rest while the authorities attempted to trace her relatives.

Next week she will be reinterred at Efford Cemetery.

 

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/funeral-woman-who-died-185-1147457

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/womans-remains-found-under-bretonside-1160009

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