Floating in Sydney Cove

[scooter]

Hello all,

A quick question to ask if you think it possible that a man found floating in Sydney Cove in 1868 might be reported in the Sydney Morning Herald?

Thanks in advance....

Scott

[Currie]

Hello Scott,

I’d say there must be a pretty good chance of it having been reported in the SMH, maybe in a “News of the Day” or similar section. The SMH archives should be available online next year. That was the main newspaper and the body was found close to the centre of the city. Whether much ended up being said about it would be another matter. It would have been a bit of a break from reports of bodies crashing from scaffolding etc. Depending on whether it was interesting there may be a report of an inquest and if he had family of friends in the City there may be a death and/or funeral notice as well.

Good luck & all the best,
Alan

[scooter]

Many thanks Alan, I thought that might be the case! Just trying to rule out another John Wishart in the quest to discover GGGG Grandfather's final fate. This one, found in Sydney Cove was an engineer, Scottish, of no precise age, and had previously been residing in the same premises as a Sydney bookbinder. Anyway, the British Library have copies of the Sydney Morning Herald on microfilm here in London, so I may take a wee peek when I've time.

Very best from a gloriously autumnal Kent!

Scott

[Currie]

That's okay Scott,

I hope you find something worthwhile.

For a number of years there was a monthly summary of Sydney Morning Herald death notices. If you know the year from the indexes you only need to look at a dozen or so papers to check the whole year. You can cover a lot of ground quickly especially for the years when there are many editions on one roll of microfilm.

This may also be useful when they come online if the names don’t come up on a search, particularly for Sydney deaths but also for other areas of the State. You can get heaps of info out of death and funeral notices and that saves having to pay for the relatively expensive NSW death certificates etc.

The summary dates are here http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nswsdps/smh19c.htm

In the Australian Newspapers beta version a search for “John Wishart” brings up quite a few scattered results. There aren’t many newspapers there at the moment but it may be worth a look if you haven’t already. http://ndpbeta.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/home

All the best,
Alan

[scooter]

Hi Alan,

Sorry for the delayed reply. Just wanted to let you know that I found the article about John several days after you posted. I'll hope to get it written down here soon, as I'm sure someone might find it useful to see the format of inquest reports in newspapers. For now, I love the fact that the inquest was held in a pub!

Very best,

Scott

P.S. After all that, it doesn't look like this John is my man.

[Currie]

Hello Scott,

My only two Inquests here in Australia were conducted in Pubs. Probably because of a shortage of venues but possibly because it might have been seen as a good place to cheer things up after the depressing proceedings.

Better luck next time.

All the best,
Alan

[scooter]

For the sake of interest!

The Sydney Morning Herald - 18 February 1868

FOUND DROWNED - The City Coroner held an inquiry yesterday, at the Observer Tavern, respecting the death of a man named John Wishart, whose body was found floating in Sydney Cove on Sunday morning by a sailor named Perry Johnson. James Kent, engineer of the steamer Kembla, identified the body as that of John Wishart, who was an engineer by profession, and about 50 years of age; he last saw him alive between 12 and 1 o'clock last Saturday morning, on board the Kembla, on which vessel deceased had been engaged during the week effecting some repairs; deceased received his pay on Saturday, and appeared quite cheerful, sober, and well when he left the vessel. Constable Little, of the water police, stated that on searching the body at the dead-house, he found a purse containing 14s 1d, a few figs of tobacco, a pair of spectacles, and two certificates of competency as a practical engineer, signed by David Henderson, of Auckland; the body had apparently not been more than ten or twelve hours in the water. He observed a cut over the back of the deceased's head, and another over the right eye he had inquiries with the view of tracing the deceased after he left the steamer Kembla on Saturday, but all that he had been able to ascertain was that he was last seen alive at his lodgings on Saturday night. Ellen Sheedy, boarding-housekeeper, of Clarence Street, stated that deceased had been stopping at the house off and on for the last ten months; he paid her regularly; the last time she saw him alive was about three o'clock on Saturday last; he was then at her house, and paid her all he owed her, which was about £1; he was not sober at the time; he left soon after three o'clock, but did not say where he was going. Deceased told her on Friday evening that he had finished his job on the Kembla, and would receive about £5 12s for it. Dr Shaw stated that on making an examination of the body he observed a wound of an incised character over the right eye, nearly into the bone, the was also an abrasion of the lip, ad an incised wound on the back of the head; the wounds were all fresh, and must have been inflicted at or shortly before death, he had by direction of the coroner since made a post-mortem examination; he found that the wound over the eye did not extend into the bone; the skull was perfectly sound. The result of his post mortem examination confirmed him in his opinion, and demonstrated conclusively, that death had resulted from asphyxia by drowning. An open verdict of found drowned was returned by the jury.

[Currie]

Thanks Scott,

It’s quite comprehensive and makes interesting reading. At least that’s another one out of the way. It’s frustrating considering how few of them there are.

Good luck,
Alan

[scooter]

My thoughts exactly, I'm sure this John must 'belong' to someone! Can't wait for the SMH to come online next year?

Cheers,

Scott