Thread: Lost 1944 burial in North Devon

I am trying to find the location of a grave. The deceased was Zena Symons, the wife of George Murray Symons, an accountant (who then had offices with his father and brother in Barnstaple) of Bideford, North Devon. Zena died aged 37 at Torrington Cottage Hospital, Great Torrington, on 19th March 1944. We know from her death certificate that at the time her home was at Little Barn, Eastacombe, Bideford. Her descendants are keen to find her grave, and believe she was buried in Torrington. I have written to the rector of Gt Torrington but she was not buried there, nor at the town council graveyard in Torrington. I have also contacted both Bideford and Barnstaple councils, who have been very helpful, but there is no record of her burial in any of the council gravesites, nor was she cremated. We have found the details of her death in the local newspapers of the time, but there is only a brief mention of her death, and none of her burial location.



The only other possibility is that she was buried with her husband. He died in August 1985 in Bideford, but we cannot locate his grave either.



This is a real mystery and we would be very grateful for any other suggestions as to how to proceed.

Thanks Shirl. We have already checked the Crem records and she is not there, but I will have a look at the other parishes in the area.

Hi Somerset3,



Have you tried checking in St Michaels Churchyard, Torrington? I've just done a search using the searchable database of Torrington Cemetery, but nothing, only a Mary Symons on 07/04/1962. St Michaels is the only other burial ground listed for Torrington. I've put the website address of the Torridge District Council's cemetries, if you haven't already come across it.



http://old.torridge.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2990



Mrsp

Hi Somerset3,



As she died before her husband, have you thought of the posibiltiy that she may have been buried near her or her husband's parents.



Also, have you got either her marriage certificate or place of baptism to give an idea of her religious denomination. Not far from us is a Jewish cemetry. I don't know how far away the next nearest one is but there are people in there from miles away. As for some of the other religions, I have no idea where they would be buried but I know I have not heard of any around here.

[quote name='somerset3' date='18 February 2010 - 04:57 PM' timestamp='1266512263' post='214643']

I am trying to find the location of a grave. The deceased was Zena Symons, the wife of George Murray Symons, an accountant (who then had offices with his father and brother in Barnstaple) of Bideford, North Devon. Zena died aged 37 at Torrington Cottage Hospital, Great Torrington, on 19th March 1944. We know from her death certificate that at the time her home was at Little Barn, Eastacombe, Bideford. Her descendants are keen to find her grave, and believe she was buried in Torrington. I have written to the rector of Gt Torrington but she was not buried there, nor at the town council graveyard in Torrington. I have also contacted both Bideford and Barnstaple councils, who have been very helpful, but there is no record of her burial in any of the council gravesites, nor was she cremated. We have found the details of her death in the local newspapers of the time, but there is only a brief mention of her death, and none of her burial location.



The only other possibility is that she was buried with her husband. He died in August 1985 in Bideford, but we cannot locate his grave either.



This is a real mystery and we would be very grateful for any other suggestions as to how to proceed.

[/quote]

I am George Murray Symons' daughter by his second marriage, and would like to know more about his first wife. I do not know where she is buried, but am sure it was not with my father, who is buried at Beaford church.