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A Tragic Death

From the Barwicker No. 36
Dec. 1994



An entry of a burial in the Barwick parish records reads:

"Richard Tarbotton hanged himself ,29 March, 1718"


We know neither his age nor his occupation. The Barwick burial entries sometimes give details such as accidents and fatal illnesses, but, this is the only one I have seen which involves suicide. It was morbid curiosity rather than historical interest that led me to try to find out more about the man and his life. I was fortunate to find that the only Tarbottons listed in the parish records are Richard's family.

They reveal that Richard Tarbotton of Thorner married Elizabeth Bell of Potterton on 7 June. About ten months later Elizabeth gave birth to twins who, as was common at that time, did not survive long. They were baptised Thomas and Anna on 6 April, 1703 and were buried the same day.

The couple had more children: John (baptised 20 March 1704), Ann (23 September 1705), and Elizabeth (15 June 1708). Tragedy struck the family again when two daughters, Mary (baptised 18 lay 1711) and Margaret (baptised 1 December 1714) died and were buried two days after their baptisms. Another son, Richard, was baptised 12 September 1714 and he survived.

But the biggest blow came to the family a couple of years later when Elizabeth, the wife and mother, died and was buried on 17 June, 1717. Was this the reason for Richard Tarbotton's suicide ten months later? This seems unlikely as on 1 January 1718, six months after his wife's death, he married again, this time to Alice Wilson,whose age and family I cannot determine for certain. Richard Tarbotton was clearly planning to rebuild his life with a new partner who could help him to bring up his young children. Why then did he commit suicide three months later?

His death was not the end of this bizarre tale. On 9 August, 1718, Alice, the grieving widow, obtained a grant of admission to her late husband's estate - and married Robert Issot four days later. The couple had four children during the years 1719-25 and then they vanish from the scene. Richard Tarbotton's daughter Elizabeth died and was buried in Barwick on 20 July, 1727, but of the rest of the children there is no trace.

Why then did Richard Tarbotton commit suicide? I have thrown a little light on the background but the research has raised more questions than it has provided answers.

ARTHUR BANTOFT


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