Just catching up after being away for a week and noted messages re deaths/burials at Haslar Hospital. Just spent 4 days at TNA Kew and one of the things we found were the records for William HINES who died at Haslar in early 1850s, from Syphyllis (not exactly described as that on his death certificate). The info for William was in the Lunatics Muster Book, which made it much easier to find. Apparently bodies were buried in mass graves until about 1840s, I don't think any records exist for those burials. After late 1840s, bodies were buried in the Memorial Garden & records for these are apparently at Portsmouth Records Office. I think Haslar Cemetary dates from late 1850s early 1860s. There was an article in a recent Portsmouth News that when Haslar is transferred to NHS from the Royal Navy in March, St Luke's Chapel will be closed. However there are a number of urns containing ashes from over the past couple of hundred years in the Chapel. These urns will be buried when the Chapel closes, unless relatives of the deceased claim them. Hope that helps Rita

Many thanks Rita. It looks as if there's no point in looking for records for my Robert MORTLEMAN who died in Haslar Hospital in the 1760s then. You've saved me going off on yet another a wild goose chase; much obliged! Anne South Australia Rita Newton wrote: > Just catching up after being away for a week and noted messages re deaths/burials at Haslar Hospital. Just spent 4 days at TNA Kew and one of the things we found were the records for William HINES who died at Haslar in early 1850s, from Syphyllis (not exactly described as that on his death certificate). > The info for William was in the Lunatics Muster Book, which made it much easier to find. Apparently bodies were buried in mass graves until about 1840s, I don't think any records exist for those burials. After late 1840s, bodies were buried in the Memorial Garden & records for these are apparently at Portsmouth Records Office. I think Haslar Cemetary dates from late 1850s early 1860s. > There was an article in a recent Portsmouth News that when Haslar is transferred to NHS from the Royal Navy in March, St Luke's Chapel will be closed. However there are a number of urns containing ashes from over the past couple of hundred years in the Chapel. These urns will be buried when the Chapel closes, unless relatives of the deceased claim them. > Hope that helps > Rita >

Is anyone researching the surname MATSON? William Tidd MATSON was the nephew of my second great grandmother who married George REX in Yorkshire and came to Australia in 1834. We are interested in finding descendants of William Tidd MATSON as we have information on their ancestor John MATSON from Bridlington, Yorkshire they may not know about. Patricia, Australia