The Diary of a Resurrectionist, 1811-1812: To Which Are Added an Account of the Resurrection Men in London and a Short History of the Passing of the Anatomy ActBailey, James Blake
History
The Diary of a Resurrectionist, 1811-1812: To Which Are Added an Account of the Resurrection Men in London and a Short History of the Passing of the Anatomy Act
Bailey, James Blake
Body snatching
[26] B. Cooper gives an account of a Resurrectionist under the name of
"Patrick"; this is probably the man referred to. The name is Harnell in
the _Sun_ for October 14th, 1812; it may, perhaps, be a misprint for
Harnett; two men of this name have already been spoken of.
[27] See also p. 126.
[28] The name is suppressed in the printed copy.
[29] Since the above was written, Mrs. Basil Holmes' interesting volume on
_The Burial Grounds of London_ has been published. Reference to this book
confirms the statement above made. Mrs. Holmes' account is very carefully
done, and the list of the old burial-grounds is probably as complete as it
can be, but no light is thrown upon any of the difficult names used in the
Diary.
[30] Slang for a burial-ground.
[31] Harper is probably the name of the keeper of a burial-ground.
[32] This occurs often in the Diary, and was evidently a favourite place
for meeting. It was, doubtless, the entrance to some burial-ground, but
there is no evidence by which the place can be definitely determined.
[33] _i.e._ a body which had had a post mortem performed on it was
obtained from the burial-ground attached to St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
[34] Watched to see what funerals were taking place during the day.
[35] Probably Michael Mordecai, who kept an old curiosity-shop in New
Alley, and was a noted receiver.
[36] Probably the landlord of a public-house.
[37] _i.e._ all the gang.
[38] The "Green Churchyard" was an addition to the Churchyard of St.
Giles, Cripplegate. "Green Churchyard" is a name which we find repeated in
other parishes; for instance, it was given to the higher portion of St.
James', Piccadilly, and to the little piece by St. Bartholomew the Great,
approached through the present south transept. Holmes, _loc. cit._ It is
impossible to say which of these is here meant.
[39] Bunhill.
[40] J. C. Carpue, the founder of the Dean Street Anatomical School.
[41] Dr. Frampton, of the London Hospital.
[42] James Wilson, of the Great Windmill Street School.
[43] Joshua Brookes, founder of the Blenheim Street, or Great Marlborough
Street, Anatomical School: for references to Brookes, see Index.
[44] See page 65.
[45] Sir Charles Bell, of Great Windmill Street School.
[46] Abbreviation for Harpers. See p. 139.
[47] Either St. Luke's Church or St. Luke's Hospital in Old Street.
[48] Words so crossed out that they cannot be deciphered; in all
probability it originally read "with their ---- throat cut."
[49] John Taunton, founder of the City of London Truss Society, a
demonstrator at Guy's Hospital under Cline, and at this time principal
lecturer to the London Anatomical Society.
[50] Artichoke Public-house.
[51] See page 127.
[52] Newington.
[53] Slang term for bodies.
[54] See page 71.
[55] Afterwards Sir Astley Cooper.
[56] Body putrid, and therefore of no use for anatomical purposes.
[57] Probably Church of St. Thomas, Charterhouse.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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