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DIRECTORY " OBITUARIES , 1773-1839. " LAITY'SCONTRIBUTED BY . JOSEPH S. HANSOM
When James Peter Coghlan started his Laity's Directory in 1773, the name of only one secular priest , James Watson, appears as having died during the preceding year, the numbers increasing annually . Down to and including 1781 the obituaries are in Latin at the end of the Calendar, seemingly to remind secular priests when to remember their deceased brethern. In 1782 they appear in English as a special feature in the books , and some during the preceding year, the numbers increasing annually . In 1782 some regulars are added, a separating line alone distinguishing between the two classes, indicating that the lists had been supplied by different authorities . In the following year nuns and lay brothers are added. In 1787 three Students in Philosophy and a special notice of one layman , Mr. John Francis Wade ," appear, the list concluding with the names of nine important members of the laity under the heading of Nobility. In 1789 Coghlan inserted a notice , reproduced in these pages, undertaking to insert the names of the laity whose mortuary cards or Bills had been printed and delivered by him to the few Catholic chapels then existing about London . At a later period, as the chapels increased in number, he made a small increase in his charge . There was no charge made to religious at any time . The offer met with varying results, in the few following years ; but the system was maintained, meeting with ultimate success. So it became a means of notifying to friends the deaths of Catholics and securing remembrances in prayer , not only amongst London people, but throughout the three Kingdoms , and even with foreigners in a few cases, where they had had associations with this country. A notable feature in 1794, repeatedlater , is a list of exiled French clergy, said to be only part of 150 who had succumbed within little over a year after their sufferings and privations in French prisons . The hospitality accorded to these confessors of the Faith by England is for Englishmen cause for pride, tempered by gratitude for the foundation of many missions. Their edifying lives and apostolic labours in our country had immediate and enduring results. Like most annuals of the sort , having served their purpose for the year, these Directories , commencing with a few pages 6 x 3 inches in paper covers , would be treated as waste, and destroyed or neglected. In consequence, it has been no easy task to collect this nearly complete list. There is probably no complete set in existence, the best collections being deficient of several numbers. Living in the parish of the London Oratory availed myself of that access kindly granted by the Fathers to transcribe the fortythree lists in their fine library, and was able to supplement these by ten more have to thank the Right Rev. Mgr. from those at the British Museum. Ward for transcribing eleven more from the Old Hall collection ; the Rev. Edwin Bonney one from Ushaw College Library ; and the Rev. Joseph L. Whitfield one from Oscott College Library. The result is am able to provide the whole series from 1773 to 1839, with the exception of that for 1774, under which date an explanation is given.
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