As evidenced by this handwritten and transcribed bill, a coffin maker received $2.00 for making a coffin in 1801. Notice the bill was paid for by the town.
1 comment:
Molly
said...
Hi Midge, Just for the record, as I said in the exhibit that particular coffin was for a newborn baby girl who was either stillborn or died the same day she was born, a coffin for an adult probably would have cost more since more wood would have been needed. The fact that the town paid for the coffin and for digging the grave tells us that Erasmus and Hannah Ward,this girl's parents, were paupers otherwise they would have paid the bill themselves. talk to you soon, Molly
1 comment:
Hi Midge,
Just for the record, as I said in the exhibit that particular coffin was for a newborn baby girl who was either stillborn or died the same day she was born, a coffin for an adult probably would have cost more since more wood would have been needed.
The fact that the town paid for the coffin and for digging the grave tells us that Erasmus and Hannah Ward,this girl's parents, were paupers otherwise they would have paid the bill themselves.
talk to you soon,
Molly
Post a Comment