A general bill of Christenings & Burials from December 15 1767 to December 13 1768

This bill of mortality lists the deaths and christenings in London for the year December 15 1767 and December 13 1768. Bills of mortality were introduced in London in the early 16th century primarily to record incidences of the plague. Information was collated by Local Parish Clerks who had no medical knowledge and often defined the causes of death themselves. A sheet summarising the year's births and deaths was published annually.

This bill notes that the greatest cause of death for the year 1768 was typically convulsions, followed by consumption and then fever. Whilst 128 Londoners drowned a surprisingly small number of 4 were listed as having been murdered, 12 were executed and 5 unfortunates starved to death. Infant mortality was, as for all years during this period extremely high, with more dying under the age of two years than any other age group, followed by those aged between 2 and 5. The bill is headed with a woodcut of the Royal coat of arms and Arms of the City of London