On August 26, 1891 Frederick and Louisa Say(e) took their baby son to be baptised at the Primitive Methodist Church in Regent Street when the seven week old baby received the rather grand name of Montague Frederick William Say.
Frederick was a blacksmith’s striker in the GWR Works and Louisa had been a needlewoman before her marriage. After the christening the little family returned to their home in West End Terrace, Westcott Place but just four months later a great tragedy struck.
In December 1891 Louisa, Frederick and baby Montague Frederick William were living at 13 George Street. Before she went to bed on the night of Wednesday December 21, 1891 Louisa hung her washing up on a line in the kitchen to dry over-night. But suddenly, the line gave way and as the washing collapsed the clothes knocked over an oil filled lamp setting Louisa alight. Louisa was dreadfully burned, and died that same night.
Louisa was buried in Radnor Street cemetery on December 26 in grave plot B1675, a public grave, where she lies with three other unrelated persons. She was 29 years old.
What happened to five month old Montague Frederick William? On the 1901 census he is aged 9 years old when he was living in Trowbridge with his paternal grandparents William, a woollen cloth dresser and Martha. His father was lodging with George and Mary Taylor at 6 Theobald Street, Swindon. In 1904 Frederick married widow Ada Maria Thomas and moved into her house in 101 Dean Street. By 1905 Montague, aged 14, was back in Swindon living with his father and step-mother. That same year he began a 7 year boiler making apprenticeship in the Works.
Frederick Say died in 1929 aged 64 and was buried in grave plot D98 with his second with Ada who died in 1923.
The little boy who lost his mother at just five months old went on to marry and have his own family. Montague was living in Kent in 1916 when he married Lilian Deeks. He died in Cosham, Hampshire in 1958 aged 67.
The New Ship Hotel more usually known as the Ship Inn published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.
Sad Death From Burning – Mr W.E.N. Browne, Coroner for North Wilts, held an inquest at the New Ship Hotel, New Swindon, on Thursday in last week on the body of Louisa Saye, wife of Frederick Saye, living at 13 George St., New Swindon. The evidence went to show that on Dec. 21st. about 9.30 p.m., deceased was hang some clothes on a line in the kitchen of her own house, when one of the nails to which the cord was attached gave way. The clothes in falling overturned a lamp on the table, with the result that the oil ignited, and the deceased’s wearing apparel was set on fire. Her cries for help attracted the attention of her husband, who was in bed at the time, and he ran down and with some difficulty succeeded in extinguishing the flames. Medical aid was obtained, but Dr Jones (assistant to Messrs Swinhoe, Howse and Bromley), pronounced the case hopeless, and the woman, who was dreadfully burned, expired on Wednesday night in great agony. After hearing the evidence the jury returned a verdict of “Death from shock to the system,” and, on the suggestion of the foreman, Mr. A. Webb, gave their fees to the husband.
North Wilts Chronicle Saturday Jan 2, 1892.
Radnor Street Cemetery 