Our Volunteers and the Stories they write.
The following stories have been written by our volunteer researchers who are all amateurs, united by a deep-rooted passion to preserve the memory of those buried in Horton Cemetery.
Once written, the researchers often return to stories at a later date when further information is unearthed. Occasionally, the researchers find case notes and photographs in the local archives and these details are woven into the stories. Sometimes, family members have come forward to add detail to the stories.
If you believe that any of the following might be someone significant in your family history, please do not hesitate to contact us.
KOEKKOEK, Hendrick B.
A famous Dutch artist from a famous artistic family; yet missing from the historical records. Why did this son end up at the Asylum?
WILSON, Eleanor Lydia Kate
b.1865 - d.1914 Eleanor Emily Lydia Kate Maule was born on the 11th October 1865 at Westminster, London. She was the daughter of William and…
BAILEY, Kate
b.1882-d.1914 Kate Bailey née Cheer was born in 1882 in Abingdon, Berkshire to a farming family. Unfortunately, there is little cheer in this family’s story,…
WILSON, Frederick Leon
The common story of someone with epilepsy whose life was marred by a lack of understanding of the condition.
KILMINSTER, George Thomas
The Kensington Plumber
WHITROD, Elizabeth
Coping with 6 family deaths within 4 months
ROADS, Francis Elliot
Many people will not know what a coprolite merchant is. This story will make all clear.
EFFEMEY, John
b.1851-d.1909 John’s family The Effemey name has been quite a challenge to research due to its change of spellings when transcribed. Effamy, Effemy, Efeny, Evamy,…
PFAFFENBACH, Augustus
The German Tailor who came to London
BARNET, Enid
Daughter of famous colonial architect who built Sydney.
DUNKINSON, Matilda
b.1878 - d.1907 Dunkinson has been spelt in a variety of ways on the sources discovered, however I believe they are transcription errors and that…
EVANS, Ida Ellen
b. 1876 - d. 1913 1870s Born Ida Ellen Jacobs, Ida's birth was registered in the 1st Quarter of 1876 in the Registration District of…
BOWDERY, Agnes Bessie
b.1844-d.1914 Agnes Bessie Corke was born in the 4th Quarter of 1844 in the Registration District of Camberwell, London, although her actual birth place was…
GORSUCH, Joseph
b.1846 - d.1916 Joseph Francis Gorsuch was born on the 7th of May 1846 at City Road, St Luke, Shoreditch, London, England to parents William…
MILTON, Maria
Maria MILTON gave birth to 11 children, a challenging life that ended in Horton Asylum.
FRANCIS, Amelia
The mysterious case of the Widow and the Decorator - The mystery of a lady who left home and was never seen again. Only years…
GILCHRIST, Jane
b.1893-d.1918 Jane’s parents and siblings Jane Gilchrist was born in the Holborn registration district to Charles Edward Gilchrist 1854 1895 and his wife Mary née…
WOOD, Mary Ann
b.1837 - d.1911 Mary Ann Wood neé Pearce was born abt.1836 in Hackney, Middlesex, England. Her birth is too early to locate on the GRO…
HAMILTON, Sarah Lloyd
b.1846-d.1930 Sarah’s story was brought to us by her family and they are happy for it to go on our website. They kindly provided the…
BIGFORD, Emma
b.1838 - d.1912 Early life – 1830s to 1840s Emma was born on 14th April 1838 in Paddington and lived to be nearly 74 years…
SEARS, Emma
b.1865-d.1914 Known Facts Emma Sears died at the age of about 49 whilst a patient at Manor Asylum, Epsom, Surrey. Her alleged age suggested a…
BELLAMY, Louisa
Lost her twin brother, aged 4
FRESTON, Catherine Louisa
b. 1829 - d. 1914 Intro Catherine Louisa Edward’s precise date of birth is not known but she was baptised on the 24th August 1829…
ALLEN, Mary Ann
b.1849-d.1913 I was unable to find Mary’s birth on the General Register Office website but her baptism certificate gives her date of birth as 3…
CASSAN, John Sheffield
The Hollywood film star's brother.
REEVE, Jane Sarah
b.1840-d.1912 Jane’s family Jane Sarah Reeve was born on 10th January 1840 and was baptised on 9th February 1840 in St Mary’s Church Marylebone. Her…
DODD, George
The French Polisher
HOWARD, Frank
b. 1876 - d. 1912 Frank’s appearance in the Lunacy Register and his hospital admission form do not record his DOB but according to the…
BURTON, Susan
She ordered extravagant luncheons both at Stafford and Northampton stations and had no money to pay for them. The delusion that she is a duchess…
APPLETON, Caroline Sophia
b.1831-d.1911 Caroline’s parents Caroline Sophia Appleton was born Caroline Sophia Barnaschina in the 1st quarter of 1831 in Gravesend, Kent. Her parents were upholsterer Anthony…
FLETCHER, George
Was an unfortunate accident responsible for this man's epilepsy?
WARD, Caroline
Without the invaluable case notes for Caroline Ward, we would not be able to tell any of her sad story.
YOUNG, Kate
b.1862-d.1920 Kate’s parents Catherine – or Kate as she would later be known – was the seventh of the eight children born to Joseph Young…
STREET, John
It is not clear why John entered Manor hospital. His family were interesting. John's brother George, a builder, left £6m in his will. His son…
TRIGGS, George
The Railway Porter
CARTER, George James (James George)
Christ's brother or King of England?
SABEY, George David
What happened to this Bootmaker?
SULLIVAN, Agnes
b.1877 – d.1927 Intro Had it not been for the Manor address book, we would never have unravelled this story. The addresses gave us the…
UNDERWOOD, Septimus Rowland
b.1873-d.1913 Septimus’s parents Septimus Rowland Underwood was born in Groton, Suffolk, in the 2nd quarter of 1873. He was the seventh of nine children born…
GILBERT, George Frederick
Died aged just 22
CORKE, Henrietta
The author says, "This has been such an interesting case to try to unravel and kept a couple of us up to the early hours…
FAY, Tottie
The Worst and Wickedest Woman in London
VAHID, Henrietta
b.1873-d.1915 A story full of mysteries and unanswered questions Henrietta Vahid was buried in Horton Estate Cemetery at Epsom in Grave number 1789b on the…
COLSON, Mary Ann
The Lambeth Needlewoman
BOLTON, Thomas
b.1862 – d.1912. Thomas's family Thomas’s birth is recorded in records variously between 1859 (1891 Census) and 1862 (admission records)and no baptism has been found,…
PEDLEY, Byron
The boisterous, Victorian star of the stage
STACE, Louisa
The glove maker
TIDYMAN, Samuel
Escaped childhood murder!
KING, Harriet
b.1836 - d.1913 Introduction: I took on this story and at first thought it might be a nice easy one to complete, but how wrong…
WATERER, Richard James
A 20ft fall led to strange behaviour
In total, there are about 9000 stories to be written.
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ABBOTT, Mary Winchester
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ABER, James William
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AITKEN, William
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ALAIS, Sarah Elizabeth
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ALDRIDGE, Frederick William
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ALLEN, Mary Ann
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ALLIBON, Sarah Emma
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AMES, Agnes
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ANDERSON, Elizabeth Leslie
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ANDREWS, Kate
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APPLETON, Caroline Sophia
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ASHWELL, Amy
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ATKINSON, Alfred Brereton
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ATTWOOD, Leslie Charles
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AUDAIN, Cyril Bannatyne
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AUSTIN, Percy John
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AVES, Thomas
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BAHRUTH, Arnold
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BAILEY, Kate
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BAKER, Cassidy (née Trull)
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BAKER, Richard Joseph
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BANNISTER, Arthur
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BARFORD, Maria Celia
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BARNET, Enid
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Bartlett, Alfred
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BATES, Beatrice Miriam
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BATTY, Jane
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BEADON, Walter
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BECKETT, Ebenezer John
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BELLAMY, Louisa
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BELL, Herbert John
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BELL, James Kennedy
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BENTLEY or MACHON, Minnie
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BIGFORD, Emma
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BISHOP, Charles Joseph
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BLACKMORE, Arthur John
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BLACKWELL, Charles
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BLAZDELL, Mary Jane
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BLEWITT, Emily Florence
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BLOMQUIST, Caroline
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BOARD, Elizabeth
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BOLD, Maria
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BOLTON, Thomas
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BONNER, Mary Elizabeth
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BOULTON, Alfred William
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BOUTTELL, Catherine
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BOWDERY, Agnes Bessie
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BOX, Archibald
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BRANSCOMBE, Frederick Neyle
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BRANSGROVE, Louisa
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BREMMICOMBE, Henry
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BROGAN, Mary
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BROOK, Herbert
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BROWN, Alfred Albert
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BRYANT, Percy Henry
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BUCKERIDGE, Lily Ada
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BUNCE, Maurice
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BURFITT, Matilda Georgina
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BURTON, Susan
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BYFORD, Walter
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CAMPBELL, Emily Elizabeth
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CAMPLISSON, George
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CAPLING, John
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CARPENTER, George
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CARR, Arthur
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CARTER, George James (James George)
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CARTWRIGHT, Walter
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CASSAN, John Sheffield
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CASSIE, George William
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CATHERWOOD, William Pearson
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CHANDLER, Emma May
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CHAPMAN, Harriett
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CHEESMAN, Annie
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CHESTERMAN, Henry
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CLARKE, George
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CLARKE, William Robert
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CLAYTON, Ada
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COATHUPE, Henry Waldegrave Lacey
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COLLIER, Isaac James
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COLLINS, John
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COLSON, Mary Ann
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COLTMAN, Martha
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COMPTON, Emma
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COOMBES, Elizabeth
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COOPER, Frederick
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COPELAND, Mary Ann (née Myring)
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COPPING, Ada
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CORBETT, John Francis
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CORKE, Henrietta
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COTTRELL, Edward
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COURTENAY, John MacArthur
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CRACKNELL, Alfred William
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CRESSWELL, Frank Ernest
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CROTTY, Susan
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CURSON, Charles Robert
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CURWOOD, Rose Hester
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CURWOOD, Thomas Edward
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CUSHNIE, George Barnes
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CUTHBERT, Alfred
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CUTHBERT, Thomasine
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DACOMBE, Amy
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DAVIS, Charles Augustus
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DAVIS, Evan James
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DEAN, George
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DEVERILL, Minnie
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DE JONG, John
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DICK, Andrea Elder
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DODD, George
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DOLDING, Annie
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DONEGAN, Lottie Enid
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DOODY, Thomas
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DORLEY, Harriet
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DOW, Charles
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DRINKWATER, John
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DUNCAN, Maud
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DUNCOMBE, Caroline
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DUNKINSON, Matilda
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D’ARENBERG, Arthur William
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EARING, Mary Ann
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EATON, Samuel
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EBELTHITE, Sarah
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EDWING, Elizabeth
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EFFEMEY, John
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ELLERTON, Edward
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ELVIN, Harry
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EMBLEM, Henry
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ENDERSON, Gertrude
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EVANS, Ida Ellen
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EVANS, James William Montague
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EYRE, Ada (née Heath)
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FAIRBRASS, Amy (Amey)
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FAY, Tottie
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FELL, Sachinais Alicia
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FLAXMAN, Elizabeth
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FLETCHER, George
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FLYNN, James David
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FOLWELL, Dora
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FORMAN, Thomas
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FOX, John
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FRANCIS, Amelia
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FRASER, Arthur Alfred
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FRESTON, Catherine Louisa
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FRIZELL, Frederick Robert
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FRYER, Edward
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FULLER, John Alfred
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FURY, Sylvester
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FUZZENS, William
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GALLIANO, James Price
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GARCÍA, Félix
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GARDNER, Thomas George
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GARLAND, Percy Ernest
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GEORGE, Frederica
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GERHARD, Marie
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GILBERT, George Frederick
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GILCHRIST, Jane
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GILLAM (GILLAN), Ellen
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GILLER, Frederick William
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GILL, Jane
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GLENISTER, Arthur
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GODBOLD, Florence Kezia May
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GODFREY, Susannah
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GOLDER, Edward
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GOMMERING, Elizabeth
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GOODING, George
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GOODING, Sarah Ann
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GORSUCH, Joseph
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GOYMER, Hugh
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GREENE, Archibald
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GREGG, Charlotte
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GUILMARTIN, Patrick Thomas
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HACKETT, Edward
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HALEY, Samuel Thomas
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HALLÉN, Hjalmar
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HALL née Grey, Emma Mary
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HAMILTON, Charles Frederick
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HAMILTON, Sarah Lloyd
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HANCOCK, John Charles
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HARDING, Harriet Emma
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HARDWICK, Dorothy
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HARLEY, Alice
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Harlock, Louisa
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HARMSWORTH, Louisa
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HARPER, James
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HARRIS, Rose Matilda Edith
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HARTNOLL, Thomas
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HAWKINS, Frederick
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HAYCOCK, Hannah
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HEATH, Lizzie
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HEDINGER, Otto John
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HELLICAR, Infant Child
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HENNESSEY, Charles
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HILLIER, Emily
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HIRONS, Matilda Lucy
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HODD, Edgar Horace
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HODGES, Annie Harriet
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HODLEY, Jane
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HOLDGATE, Charles
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HOLLIDGE, Martha
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HOLLIMAN, Emma
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HOLTON, Emma
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HONEY, Joseph Thomas
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HOPE, Julia
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HORRIGAN, William
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HORSEY, Joseph Maslen
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HORWOOD, William
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HOWARD, Emma
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HOWARD, Frank
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HOWE, Walter
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HOWKINS, Ann Barrows
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HUNT, John James
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HYATT, George
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JACKSON, Priscilla
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JAKEMAN, George
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JAMES, Annie
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JAMES, Henry Walter
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JAMES, Susan
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JELLIMAN, Elizabeth
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JERVIS, Arthur
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JOBLING, Sophia
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JOHNSON, William Arthur
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JONES, Archibald
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JONES, Grace Ethel Primrose
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JORDAN, Edward George
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JOSLIN, Ada
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JUDD, Minnie Marie Ann
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KEARNEY, Alfred
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KELLAND, Henry Philip Chambers
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KELLY, Henry
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KENNY, Alexander Sylvester John
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KENT, Edward John
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KIDD, James
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KILMINSTER, George Thomas
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KIMBER, Thomas
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KING, Ellen Mary
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KING, Ernest Albert
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KING, Harriet
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KLESENDORF, Alfred George
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KOEKKOEK, Hendrick B.
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KROMBACH, Edward
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KRZYZOWSKI, Josef
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LAIT, Alfred Benjamin
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LAMBERT, Fannie Ethel
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LANDROS, Peter
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LARNER, Emily
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LAUGHTON, Ethel
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LEFEVRE, Edmond Frederick
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LEIGH, Jessie
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LEVELL, Nellie Louisa
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LEVERETT, John Henry
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LEWIS, Francis
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LEWIS, James
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LEWIS, William Grosvenor Joseph
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LIDDIARD, William Bromley
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LUSK, George Alfred
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MAIDMENT, Edward
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MANNOCK, Walter
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MAPLE, Louisa
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MARHAM, Adeline Miriam
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MASON, Benjamin Albert
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MASSEY, Harriet
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MASTIN, Alfred
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MAUER, Charles
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MAURISCHE, Marie Theresa
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McCLOUD, David Drummond
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MCDONALD, Ethel
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McGOVARIN, Laura
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MEAD, Daisy
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MEIN, Alexander
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METROSOGLOW, John
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MILTON, Maria
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MINCHER, Samuel
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MOORE, Henry
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MORGAN, Alfred
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MORGAN, Jemima
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MORIVAL, Louis
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MORRISH, Mary
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MOSS, Joseph William
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MOSS, Thomas
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MOUSLEY, Edward Lawford Girling
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MUNDAY, Mary Ann
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MUNDY, George
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MUNRO (née Saunders), Sarah
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MURRELL, James
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PAPE, William Edwin
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PARKER, Walter Gilbert
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PARKYNS, Ann
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PASKELL, Kate
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PASTEAU, Maurice
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PAULSON, George Grant
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PAXTON, William Spencer
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PEDLEY, Byron
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PELHAM, George
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PENFOLD, Edward Charles
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PENN, Rose Esther
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PENN, William George Joseph
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PENZA, Peter
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PETERSON, Sophia
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PFAFFENBACH, Augustus
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PHILLIPS, William
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POPPLEWELL, James
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POSFORD, Emily Caroline
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POULTON, George Henry
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PRESTRIDGE, Frederick
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PUTMAN, William John
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PYATT, Sidney
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PYM, Edward
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RAINE, James George
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RAYSON, Walter Sydney
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READ, George Richard
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REEVE, Jane Sarah
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RIDLEY, Valentine George
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ROADS, Francis Elliot
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ROBB, David
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ROBERTS, Benjamin
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ROENNE (Ferdinand) Frederick Adam
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ROLFE, Thomas Philip
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RUDKIN, Elizabeth Jane
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RUMBOLD, Bertram
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RYAN, Mary
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SABEY, George David
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SADLER, Thomas
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SAGE, Henry Charles
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SAWKINS, Thomas
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SCAMBLER, Thomas William
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SCHMIDT, Ethel
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SCOTT, Alexander
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SEARS, Albert
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SEARS, Emma
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SHINE, John James
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SHORTLAND, Edward James
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SHREEVE, Lottie
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SIMCOCK, Ellen (Nellie)
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SIMMONS, William
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SKERMER (also Skinner/Skirner), Charles
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SKILLINGS, Samuel
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SKINNER, Alfred
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SKULL, Mark
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SMITH, Emily Clara
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SOAR, Mary Ann
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SODEN, George
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SOPER, George Edward Worsley
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SPACKMAN, Lily Sophia
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SPRING, Elizabeth
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SPURRETT, Thomas Richard
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SPURRET, Walter George Blofeld
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STACE, Louisa
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STAFFORD, Henry Alfred
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STANDLY, Louisa
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STASZEWICZ, Felicja
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STEBBINGS, Mahala
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STIDDIFORD, Edith
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STREET, John
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SULLIVAN, Agnes
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SWAN, Ernest Paul
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SYKES, Gertrude
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SYMES, David
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WALLACE/WALLISS, Frederick
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WALL, John William
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WALTER, Mary Elizabeth
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WARD, Caroline
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WATERER, Richard James
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WATKINS, Caroline
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WEEKES, Esther
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WESLEY, James
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WHEELER, Ada Elizabeth
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WHITAKER, Isabella
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WHITROD, Elizabeth
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WILSON, Eleanor Lydia Kate
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WILSON, Frederick Leon
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WOODCOTE, Mary
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WOOD, Mary Ann
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WRIGHT, Eliza