When was it published?

October 11, 1751 in The Virginia Gazette

Foreign News October 11, 1751

The Virginia Gazette

Q: What keywords are associated?

London Family, Violent Fever, Mother Death, Child Delirium, Parish Relief, Laborer Family

Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia

View full issue View on Library of Congress PDF Page 2

What is this article about?

In London on April 22, a family of laborers suffered a calamity when the mother died of fever, leaving her husband and four young children ill in their garret. The plight was discovered when an 11-year-old daughter ran out in delirium, prompting parish aid including a coffin, physician, and relief.

Clipping

OCR Quality

98% Excellent

Full Text

LONDON, April 22. Friday Morning, about Eleven o'Clock, a Girl of eleven Years of Age, came running out of a House in Turnmill-street, with only her Shift on, screaming and raving violently, and then suddenly fell down into a convulsive Fit; some of the Neighbours took the Child up, and imagined that the Mother had beat her, and by that Means occasioned her Screaming: But how great was their Mistake, and how shocking the Prospect before them! In a Garret, lay the Mother dead, the Father by her, with three other Children besides this Girl, all sick of a violent Fever in the same Bed, without Support or Assistance of any Kind. It seems the Mother was first taken ill, and communicated the Distemper to her Husband and the Children, by being so closely pent up together; and not one of them was able to stir out to inform the Neighbours of their Calamity, till the Girl abovementioned ran out in a Delirium. The Parish Officers were immediately applied to, they Sent to a Relation of the poor Wretches, who ordered a Coffin for the Woman, and a Physician, with other necessary Relief to the rest of the Family. The Man is an industrious Labourer, and has now seven Children, three at Service, and the other four in the same calamitous Circumstances with himself.

What sub-type of article is it?

Family Tragedy Illness Case

What keywords are associated?

London Family Violent Fever Mother Death Child Delirium Parish Relief Laborer Family

Where did it happen?

Turnmill Street, London

Foreign News Details

Primary Location

Turnmill Street, London

Event Date

Friday Morning, About Eleven O'clock

Outcome

mother dead; father and four children sick with violent fever; coffin, physician, and relief provided by parish and relation.

Event Details

A girl of eleven ran out screaming from a house in Turnmill-street, falling into convulsions. Neighbors found her mother dead in a garret, with her father and three other children sick of fever in the same bed. The mother fell ill first, spreading the distemper due to close confinement. None could seek help until the girl's delirium. Parish officers arranged aid.