Caroline Whiting 1851-1890

Parents: Henry Whiting and Mary Scott (1)
Born: 15th April 1851 in Burton End, Haverhill. (1,2)
Baptised: 1st June 1851 at St Mary's Parish Church, Haverhill.(1)
Married: Isaac Argent, batchelor, labourer, of Haverhill, son of Thomas Argent, labourer, on 12th October 1867 at St Mary's Parish Church, Haverhill. Witnessed by Ephraim Whiting and Ann Argent.(3,4)
Children: Charlotte Whiting b.1867 illegitimate, William Argent b.1869 died in infancy, William Isaac Argent b.1870 died in infancy, Alice Argent b.1872, Martha Jane Argent b.1875, twins b.1876 died in infancy and Lillie Ethel Argent b.1880
Died: 16th July 1890 of uterine cancer at Camps Road in Haverhill. Buried on 21st July 1890 at Haverhill Cemetery.(7,8)

Bio: Caroline lives with her mother and father and large family on the 1861 census in Burton End. She married Isaac Argent in 1867 and set up home with him, also in Burton End. They are here on the 1871 census. Isaac is listed as a brewers labourer, and Caroline as a trousers finisher. They have a daughter, Charlotte, whose age is given as five. She appears to have been the illegitimate child of Caroline, but assumed the Argent name after her mothers marriage.

On the 1881 census they are living in Camps Road. Isaac is still a brewers labourer, Caroline a factory hand finisher, and they have four daughters living with them; Charlotte, Alice, Martha and Lillie. Caroline had had two children, both Williams, who died in infancy in 1869 and 1870 as well as twins who died in infancy at 15 minutes and 12 hours old in 1876.(9) I am unsure if Caroline and Isaac had anymore children after Lillie - this is hard to trace as they do not appear on any more censuses.

Isaac died on 18th November1889 aged 42, and was buried at Haverhill Cemetery on 23rd November.(5,6) The Ipswich Journal of 23rd November describes the reason for his death at such an early age: 'Haverhill - Sudden Death. Isaac Argent, a brewer, died very suddenly on Monday morning, in Camp's Road. It appears that the deceased has for some time been a great sufferer from asthma. Early on Monday morning he was attacked by a severe fit of coughing, and choked to death. We understand that an Inquest will not be held.'(10) His death certificate records the cause as Pthisis.

Caroline died the next year of uterine cancer at Camps Road, aged only 39, and was also buried at Haverhill Cemetery.(7,8)

Thanks to John Orchard for information from the death certificates of Isaac and Caroline.

Sources:

(1) Suffolk Records Office, Bury St Edmunds, Parish Registers of St Mary's Church, Haverhill. Fiche 578/4/p11 of 37
(2) Birth Register. 2nd Quarter 1851, Risbridge District, Volume 12 Page 449
(3) Suffolk Records Office, Bury St Edmunds, Parish Registers of St Mary's Church, Haverhill. Fiche 578/4/p27 of 37
(4) Marriage Register. 4th Quarter 1867, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 825
(5) Death Register. 4th Quarter 1889, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 352
(6) Haverhill Cemetery, Ref.1695. http://www.haverhill-uk.com/pages/burial-records-137.htm
(7) Death Register. 3rd Quarter 1890, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 339
(8) Haverhill Cemetery, Ref.1772. http://www.haverhill-uk.com/pages/burial-records-137.htm
(9) Haverhill Cemetery, compartment FO grave space 43. (information from Sue MacDonald via John Orchard)
(10) The Ipswich Journal, Saturday, November 23rd 1889, issue 9211. C19th British Library Newspapers: part II