Mary Penney
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth: Cir 1873 - Hyde?, Cheshire. 1
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Parents
Father: David Penney (Abt 1823-1874)
Mother: Charlotte Poundall (Cir 1834- )
Samuel Penney
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 3 Aug 1904
Christening:
Death: 1983 - Tameside, Greater Manchester 2
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Census: 1911, 2 Apr 1911, 1.B. Joel Lane, Gee Cross, Hyde, Cheshire.
Parents
Father: Samuel Penney (1870-1905)
Mother: Solino Sumner (1871-1942)
Samuel Penney
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 1870 - Godley, Cheshire 3
Christening:
Death: 1905 4
Burial:
Cause of Death: Typhoid fever. 5
AFN :
Events
• Occupation: Engineer, Mather & Platts (Engineering Company).
• Residence: Wicken Cottage, Werneth Low, Cheshire. 5
• Census: 1871 census, 2 Apr 1871, 11 Smithy Lane, Hyde, Cheshire. 6
• Census: 1881, 3 Apr 1881, Smithy Lane, Hyde, Cheshire. 1
• Occupation: Mill fitter, 2 Oct 1898, Moses Gate, Bolton, Lancashire.
• Residence: at time of daughter Vara's baptism, 2 Oct 1898, 29 Egerton Street, Moses Gate, Bolton, Lancashire.
• Census: 1901, 31 Mar 1901, The Navigation Hotel, 134 Hyde Road, Woodley, Cheshire. 7
• Occupation: Publican, 31 Mar 1901, The Navigation Hotel, 134 Hyde Road, Woodley, Cheshire. 7
Parents
Father: David Penney (Abt 1823-1874)
Mother: Charlotte Poundall (Cir 1834- )
Spouses and Children
1. *Solino Sumner (1871 - Nov 1942)
Marriage: Cir 1896
Children:
1. Vara Penney (1898-1986)
2. Hilda Penney (1904-1979)
3. Samuel Penney (1904-1983)
Notes
Marriage Notes (Solino Sumner)
Selina was the daughter of Robert Sumner, who had become a Mill Manager. Sam Penney was an engineer at Mather & Platt's. Neville Grieves believes that this is how they met. 5
Thomas Penney
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: Abt 1863 - Godley, Cheshire 8
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Census: 1871 census, 2 Apr 1871, 11 Smithy Lane, Hyde, Cheshire. 9
• Census: 1881, 3 Apr 1881, Smithy Lane, Hyde, Cheshire. 1
• Occupation: Cork cutter, 3 Apr 1881, Hyde, Cheshire. 1
Parents
Father: David Penney (Abt 1823-1874)
Mother: Charlotte Poundall (Cir 1834- )
Vara Penney
Sex: F
AKA: Vera Penney
Individual Information
Birth: 26 Aug 1898 - 29 Egerton Street, Moses Gate, Bolton, Lancashire 10
Christening: 2 Oct 1898
Death: 28 Jan 1986 - 8 Rowbotham Street, Hyde, Cheshire 11
Burial:
Cause of Death: Cancer
AFN :
Events
• Census: 1901, 31 Mar 1901, The Navigation Hotel, 134 Hyde Road, Woodley, Cheshire. 7
• Census: 1911, 2 Apr 1911, 1.B. Joel Lane, Gee Cross, Hyde, Cheshire.
Parents
Father: Samuel Penney (1870-1905)
Mother: Solino Sumner (1871-1942)
Notes
Birth Notes:
Central indexes record her name as Vera Penney. Born in Bolton registration district. Volume 8c. Entry 351.Death Notes:
Vara - who was known by the family as "Aunty" played a key role in the life of her nephew, Neville Grieves. Her family doctor, Dr Harold Shipman, was very well respected by Aunty - and he looked after her till her death from cancer.General:
He was later proved to have murdered hundreds of his patients. Aunty's death was investigated as part of the Shipman enquiry, although the findings show that it is almost certain that her death was from natural causes.
Vara PenneyMedical:
Introduction Miss Vara Penney died at her home, 8 Rowbotham Street, Hyde on Tuesday, 28th January 1986 at the age of 86. She had been a patient of Dr Bennett but transferred to Shipman some years before she died and thought highly of him. He certified that the cause of her death was old age.
In September 2001, the Inquiry placed an advertisement in a number of newspapers, publishing a list of cases in which the Inquiry had only limited information as to the circumstances of death and in which no relatives had been traced. In response to that advertisement, Miss Penney's nephews, Mr Sam Penney and Mr Neville Grieves, contacted the Inquiry.
The Inquiry has taken statements from Mr Grieves, Mrs Nora Smythe (a neighbour of Miss Penney) and from a friend of Miss Penney who wishes to remain anonymous. The Inquiry has also had access to Shipman's visits book for 1986 and the counterfoil of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). Miss Penney's medical records have not survived.
This decision has been written following consideration of the papers and without an oral hearing.
Personal Background At the time of her death, Miss Penney was living alone. She had long-standing back and hip problems but remained active and independent, at least until her health began to deteriorate about 18 months before her death. Some time during the summer or autumn of 1985, Shipman told Mr Grieves' wife that Miss Penney had cancer. Shipman said that Miss Penney had refused hospital treatment and that she would not recover. Miss Penney disliked hospitals and her refusal of treatment came as no surprise to her nephew.
The Events of the Weeks Leading up to Death Miss Penney was very ill during the last few weeks of her life. She was cared for mainly by a friend who spent virtually the whole of each day with her. Miss Penney's friend did not know the nature of her illness. Miss Penney was confined to her bed and had difficulty in eating. The district nurses visited regularly to wash her and change her clothing. It seems likely that Miss Penney was receiving morphine injections to relieve her pain. Towards the end she was in a comatose state. The district nurses kept their syringes and Miss Penney's drugs at the house.
Miss Penney's name does not appear in Shipman's visits book during the month of January 1986. However, Mr Grieves suggests that Shipman used to visit quite frequently without being called out. That seems likely in the case of a terminally ill patient.
The Day of the Death Miss Penney's friend arrived at Miss Penney's house at about 9am on 28th January 1986. She recalls that Miss Penney was very weak and could not communicate. She had been in the same condition on the previous few days. Miss Penney's friend recalls that the district nurses attended both in the morning and in the afternoon, as was their usual routine. She recalls that after the nurses had been she sat in a chair next to Miss Penney's bed to 'keep an eye on her'. Miss Penney's friend says that Shipman did not visit Miss Penney at all that day.
Miss Penney's friend recalls that 'sometime after teatime' while she was sitting by the bed she realised that she could not hear Miss Penney breathing. She spoke to Miss Penney but there was no response. Miss Penney's friend telephoned her son and, while she was speaking to him, heard Miss Penney make a strange noise. She recalls that her son's wife, who was a nurse, told her over the telephone that the noise was the 'death rattle' and that Miss Penney had probably just died. This proved to be the case. Miss Penney's friend recalls that Miss Penney looked very peaceful as if she were sleeping.
Certification Shipman must have completed the MCCD. Although the certificate itself has not survived, its counterfoil has been found. Shipman recorded that he had last seen Miss Penney alive on the day of her death. I note that he certified that the death was due to 'old age' although the cause of death was probably capable of more accurate diagnosis. I do not think there is anything sinister about this. Many people of Miss Penney's generation who had cancer did not wish for others to know the nature of their illness. It seems plausible that Shipman knew that Miss Penney did not wish the nature of her illness to be known.
The copy entry in the register of deaths ('death certificate') wrongly names Miss Penney as Vera Penny.
Conclusion It seems likely that Miss Penney died of natural causes, probably some form of cancer.
The history of gradual deterioration and increasing weakness is entirely typical of the progression of many forms of cancer. During the last two weeks of her life she was very weak, often comatose and could hardly communicate. Her death was neither sudden nor unexpected.
There is some cause for concern in this case because Shipman claimed that he had last seen Miss Penney alive on the day of the death. Miss Penney's friend does not remember him visiting that day, but she might have forgotten. If he did visit, it seems to me unlikely that the visit could have been at or shortly before the death; Miss Penney's friend would have remembered that.
My conclusion is that Miss Penney almost certainly died of natural causes.
From Report from the Shipman Inquiry: Into deaths seen as "suspicious" after Dr Harold Shipman's trial for the murder of multiple patients from 1977 onwards.
Vara Penney
Introduction Miss Vara Penney died at her home, 8 Rowbotham Street, Hyde on Tuesday, 28th January 1986 at the age of 86. She had been a patient of Dr Bennett but transferred to Shipman some years before she died and thought highly of him. He certified that the cause of her death was old age.
In September 2001, the Inquiry placed an advertisement in a number of newspapers, publishing a list of cases in which the Inquiry had only limited information as to the circumstances of death and in which no relatives had been traced. In response to that advertisement, Miss Penney's nephews, Mr Sam Penney and Mr Neville Grieves, contacted the Inquiry.
The Inquiry has taken statements from Mr Grieves, Mrs Nora Smythe (a neighbour of Miss Penney) and from a friend of Miss Penney who wishes to remain anonymous. The Inquiry has also had access to Shipman's visits book for 1986 and the counterfoil of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). Miss Penney's medical records have not survived.
This decision has been written following consideration of the papers and without an oral hearing.
Personal Background At the time of her death, Miss Penney was living alone. She had long-standing back and hip problems but remained active and independent, at least until her health began to deteriorate about 18 months before her death. Some time during the summer or autumn of 1985, Shipman told Mr Grieves' wife that Miss Penney had cancer. Shipman said that Miss Penney had refused hospital treatment and that she would not recover. Miss Penney disliked hospitals and her refusal of treatment came as no surprise to her nephew.
The Events of the Weeks Leading up to Death Miss Penney was very ill during the last few weeks of her life. She was cared for mainly by a friend who spent virtually the whole of each day with her. Miss Penney's friend did not know the nature of her illness. Miss Penney was confined to her bed and had difficulty in eating. The district nurses visited regularly to wash her and change her clothing. It seems likely that Miss Penney was receiving morphine injections to relieve her pain. Towards the end she was in a comatose state. The district nurses kept their syringes and Miss Penney's drugs at the house.
Miss Penney's name does not appear in Shipman's visits book during the month of January 1986. However, Mr Grieves suggests that Shipman used to visit quite frequently without being called out. That seems likely in the case of a terminally ill patient.
The Day of the Death Miss Penney's friend arrived at Miss Penney's house at about 9am on 28th January 1986. She recalls that Miss Penney was very weak and could not communicate. She had been in the same condition on the previous few days. Miss Penney's friend recalls that the district nurses attended both in the morning and in the afternoon, as was their usual routine. She recalls that after the nurses had been she sat in a chair next to Miss Penney's bed to 'keep an eye on her'. Miss Penney's friend says that Shipman did not visit Miss Penney at all that day.
Miss Penney's friend recalls that 'sometime after teatime' while she was sitting by the bed she realised that she could not hear Miss Penney breathing. She spoke to Miss Penney but there was no response. Miss Penney's friend telephoned her son and, while she was speaking to him, heard Miss Penney make a strange noise. She recalls that her son's wife, who was a nurse, told her over the telephone that the noise was the 'death rattle' and that Miss Penney had probably just died. This proved to be the case. Miss Penney's friend recalls that Miss Penney looked very peaceful as if she were sleeping.
Certification Shipman must have completed the MCCD. Although the certificate itself has not survived, its counterfoil has been found. Shipman recorded that he had last seen Miss Penney alive on the day of her death. I note that he certified that the death was due to 'old age' although the cause of death was probably capable of more accurate diagnosis. I do not think there is anything sinister about this. Many people of Miss Penney's generation who had cancer did not wish for others to know the nature of their illness. It seems plausible that Shipman knew that Miss Penney did not wish the nature of her illness to be known.
The copy entry in the register of deaths ('death certificate') wrongly names Miss Penney as Vera Penny.
Conclusion It seems likely that Miss Penney died of natural causes, probably some form of cancer.
The history of gradual deterioration and increasing weakness is entirely typical of the progression of many forms of cancer. During the last two weeks of her life she was very weak, often comatose and could hardly communicate. Her death was neither sudden nor unexpected.
There is some cause for concern in this case because Shipman claimed that he had last seen Miss Penney alive on the day of the death. Miss Penney's friend does not remember him visiting that day, but she might have forgotten. If he did visit, it seems to me unlikely that the visit could have been at or shortly before the death; Miss Penney's friend would have remembered that.
My conclusion is that Miss Penney almost certainly died of natural causes.
Anne Penrith
Sex: F
AKA: Ann Penrith 12
Individual Information
Birth: Cir 1809 - Kirkham, Lancashire 13
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Census: 1841 Census, 6 Jun 1841, Buck Lane, Kirkham, Lancashire. 13 (Household Member)
• Census: 1851 Census, 30 Mar 1851, 36 Back Lane, Kirkham Lancashire. 12 (Household Member)
• Occupation: Linen Weaver Hand Loom, 30 Mar 1851, Kirkham, Lancashire. 12
Parents
Father: Curwen Penrith (Cir 1787-1841)
Mother: Betty Foster ( - )
Spouses and Children
1. *John Whiteside (Cir 1814 - )
Marriage: 6 Jun 1840 - Kirkham, Lancashire
Children:
1. Mary Whiteside (Cir 1840- ) 13
2. Frances Whiteside (Cir 1843- ) 12
3. Elizabeth Whiteside (Cir 1845- ) 12
4. Edward Whiteside (Cir 1849- ) 12
Curwen Penrith
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: Cir 1787 - Lancashire
Christening:
Death: Sep 1841 - Kirkham, Lancashire 14
Burial: 12 Sep 1841 - St. Michael, Kirkham, Lancashire
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Occupation: Blacksmith, 23 Feb 1819, Kirkham, Lancashire.
• Residence: at time of son James' baptism, 23 Feb 1819, Kirkham, Lancashire.
• Census: 1841, 6 Jun 1841, Catforth, Woodplumpton, Lancashire.
• Occupation: Blacksmith, 6 Jun 1841, Catforth, Woodplumpton, Lancashire.
• Residence: at time of death, Sep 1841, Kirkham, Lancashire.
Spouses and Children
1. *Betty Foster ( - )
Marriage: 31 Aug 1807 - St. Michael, Kirkham, Lancashire
Children:
1. Anne Penrith (Cir 1809- )
2. James Penrith (1819-1879) 15
Isabella Penrith
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth: 1860 - Preston, Lancashire 16
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Census: 1861, 7 Apr 1861, 4 Lodge Street, Preston, Lancashire. 17 (Household Member)
• Census: 1871, 2 Apr 1871, 27, Beverley Street, Ashton On Ribble, Preston, Lancashire. 18
Parents
Father: James Penrith (1819-1879) 15
Mother: Jane Johnson (Cir 1818- ) 15
James Penrith
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: Cir 1862 - Preston, Lancashire 15
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Parents
Father: James Penrith (1819-1879) 15
Mother: Jane Johnson (Cir 1818- ) 15
James Penrith
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 1819 - Kirkham, Lancashire 19
Christening: 23 Feb 1819 - St. Michael, Kirkham, Lancashire
Death: Mar Q 1879 - Preston, Lancashire 20
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Residence: at time of baptism, 23 Feb 1819, Kirkham, Lancashire.
• Census: 1851, 30 Mar 1851, 87 Duke Street, Horton, Bradford, West Riding Of Yorkshire. 21
• Census: 1861, 7 Apr 1861, 4 Lodge Street, Preston, Lancashire. 17
• Occupation: Labourer, 7 Apr 1861, Preston, Lancashire. 17
Parents
Father: Curwen Penrith (Cir 1787-1841)
Mother: Betty Foster ( - )
Spouses and Children
1. *Jane Johnson (Cir 1818 - ) 15
Marriage: 18 Feb 1844 - St. John's, Preston, Lancashire
Children:
1. Joseph Penrith (1846- ) 15
2. Sarah Penrith (Cir 1848- ) 22
3. Phoebe Penrith (1851- ) 15
4. Thomas Penrith (Cir 1853- ) 15
5. John Curwen Penrith (1858- ) 23
6. Isabella Penrith (1860- )
7. Robert Penrith (Cir 1860- ) 15
8. James Penrith (Cir 1862- ) 15
Sources
1. 1881 Census, FHL Film 1341830 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 3467 Folio 37 Page 13. Surety: 3. .... IGI Family Search website, Surety: 2.
2. Death indexes, Vol 39. Page 1801. Oct-Dec 1983. Tameside. Greater Manchester. Surety: 3.
3. From Gravestone. Hyde Cemetery, Surety: 1. .... 1901 census, Surety: 3.
4. St. Catherine's House Index, Surety: 1.
5. Personal recollection - Neville Grieves, Surety: 2.
6. 1871 census (2nd April 1871.), Surety: 4.
7. 1901 census, Surety: 4.
8. 1871 census (2nd April 1871.), Surety: 2.
9. 1871 census (2nd April 1871.), Surety: 3.
10. Death indexes, Volume 39. Page 1952. Tameside. Greater Manchester. Jan 1986. Surety: 4. .... Free BMD Index 1837-1983, Name: Vera Penney Year of Registration: 1898 Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec District: Bolton County: Greater Manchester, Lancashire Volume: 8c Page: 351. Surety: 3.
11. Report from the Shipman Inquiry, Surety: 3.
12. 1851 Census, Census Transcript Household Lancashire 1851
Address 36 Back Lane
Parish Kirkham
Registration District Fylde
Image Reference HO107/2269/F?. Surety: 2.
13. 1841 census, Census Transcript Family Lancashire 1841
Address Buck Lane
Parish Kirkham
Registration District Fylde, Garstang & Preston
Image Reference HO107/0496/F?. Surety: 2.
14. Free BMD Index, Death Record for James Penrith
in the District of Preston
Name James Penrith
District Preston, Lancashire
Date of Birth (Calculated) 1818
Age 61
Page 0504
Volume 8E
Registered January - March 1879Death Record for Curwen Penrith
in the District. Surety: 2.
15. Genes Reunited contact (www.genesreunited.co.uk), Karen Grimbaldeston's information. Surety: 2.
16. 1871 census (2nd April 1871.), RG10 4217. Surety: 4. .... Birth indexes, Jan-March 1860. Preston, Lancashire. Volume 8e. Page 480. Surety: 2.
17. 1861 census, Census Transcript Household Lancashire 1861
Address 4 Lodge Street
Parish Preston
Registration District Preston
Image Reference RG9/3132/F?. Surety: 3.
18. 1871 census (2nd April 1871.), RG10 4217. Surety: 4.
19. Genes Reunited contact (www.genesreunited.co.uk), Karen Grimbaldeston's information. Surety: 2. .... 1851 Census, HO107/2309. Surety: 3.
20. Free BMD Index, Death Record for James Penrith
in the District of Preston
Name James Penrith
District Preston, Lancashire
Date of Birth (Calculated) 1818
Age 61
Page 0504
Volume 8E
Registered January - March 1879. Surety: 2.
21. 1851 Census, HO107/2309. Surety: 3.
22. 1891 census, Census Transcript Household Lancashire 1891
Address 154 High Street
Parish
Registration District Dukinfield, Ashton Under Lyne
Image Reference RG12/3290/F?. Surety: 4.
23. Genes Reunited contact (www.genesreunited.co.uk), Karen Grimbaldeston's information. Surety: 2. .... Free BMD Index 1837-1983, Name: John Curwen Penrith Year of Registration: 1858 Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar District: Bootle Cul County: Cumberland Volume: 10b Page: 492. Surety: 3.