Murder and Mishap

“Accidents were frequent in the nineteenth century and unexpected deaths were much more commonplace. Without modern medicine and before days of health and safety legislation, people were often struck down in their normal day to day lives. Open fires in homes, dangerous industrial workshops, and the use of horses on the roads caused frequent if not daily fatal incidents. Dramatic catastrophes such as the Sheffield Flood and shipwrecks led to the deaths of many other Sheffield residents who were then buried or commemorated in the Sheffield General Cemetery. The historic cemetery’s burial records along with contemporary reports reveal the fascinating stories of over forty people in this book. Sheffield’s varied social history shines through these accounts of the untimely endings to everyday lives.”–Back cover.