The Hampshire Family Historian | Volume 50 No.2 | Sept 2023

Member’s article

although I still do not know where she is buried. Poor Ada. 1921 census I thought I would have finished my story before the 1921 census was released - but no! This meant I was able to find the protagonists a few years on. Surprisingly, Alfred and Rosina were not recorded in the same household. Alfred still lived in Market Street, Eastleigh whilst Rosina was at Newman Street in Southampton. She was living with her two children, Thora and George (both living here in the 1939 Register). Both Alfred and Rosina were the ‘heads’ of their respective households and widowed. Alfred lived alone. Interestingly, there are crossings out about their respective children on both census records. Thora’s father (Sidney) is correctly stated as ‘Dead’ whilst, below her, George’s parents are ‘Both alive’ – actually correct, however this is crossed out and ‘ditto’ written (trying to cover his true parentage?). Meanwhile, Alfred’s eldest son with deceased wife Ada - John, now 12 - was still living with the Goodall family. The outcome So, returning to the original mystery, what had happened to Alfred Hatcher and Rosina

Hatcher and why were they buried the same day? I was unable to find a related newspaper article online. I called the ‘Echo’ offices in Southampton and the Hampshire Records Offices to learn that although some of the newspapers of that age have been scanned, they are on microfiche and not indexed. I would need to personally scroll through the papers to find anything. I decided to purchase Alfred’s GRO death certificate. When it arrived, it provided me with the explanation. Alfred HATCHER died from “Asphyxia due to coal gas poison/Congestive heart failure/Misadventure”. He was found dead in his house on Saturday 3rd April 1965 (but it doesn't say by whom). It also stated that an inquest would be held on the 8th. I imagine that his partner Rosina died in the same incident and would explain their joint burials held on the 9th. In July 2021, I requested the inquest papers from the Hampshire coroner’s office. Alfred and Rosina would have lived together in the same house for over 46 years and died together. It is a story that would have been possibly scandalous at the time but arguably quite touching these days. At least they

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