Death at sea - more info?

fmackay · Post by **fmackay** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 1:21 pm

Wondered if anyone could tell me if it's possible to get more information about a death at sea apart from what is on the certificate from Register House.
I have the cert for my gg grandfather who died at sea in 1875 but it gives no information other than date of death,the ship he was on and that he died at sea. He was a seaman aboard the SS Orion
Where would I look next for further info if it's available?
Thankyou

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 1:57 pm

Hi
I had a similar case and was able to find nothing else much - I still don't know if it is the correct guy or not as I have no cross check on a next-of-kin or parents' names.

I sent to Canada for the ship's crewlist for the voyage he was on, but it gave no further information other than the previous ship he was on, the records for which could not be found... and I had thought I could be smart and trace him backwards in the hope of some nugget of info turning up which would confirm or not confirm he was the one I was looking for...

Maybe you might have better luck.
Crewlists & etc., if you want to follow it up from this angle, can be found in the following archives:

The Maritime History Archive, Newfoundland, holds approximately 75 percent of the surviving crew agreements and official log books of British registered vessels for the periods 1863-1938 and 1951-1976. The National Archives, Kew, has retained all surviving documents prior to 1861, as well as a 10 percent sample in the 1861-1938 and 1951-1976 periods. All surviving documents for 1861-1862 and years ending in "5" (e.g. 1885) are held at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

The Maritime History Archive,
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, NL
A1C 5S7
Canada
Web Site: http://www.mun.ca/mha

National Archives (Kew)
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/

Best wishes
Lesley

fmackay · Post by **fmackay** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 2:11 pm

Hi Lesley,
I will check out these websites. Would like to know how he died - was he drowned, ill,whatever, I don't even know if the ship sank or what.
Thanks
Fiona

Hugh Stevely · Post by **Hugh Stevely** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 3:14 pm

Hi all came up with this one if not good luck with you search.

http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/v ... p?id=16368

Hugh.

fmackay · Post by **fmackay** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 3:21 pm

Hi Hugh
Thankyou very much for that link - seems a bit of an unlucky ship to be on!!
Makes me even more curiouser about the death of my gg grandfather.!
Fiona

Hugh Stevely · Post by **Hugh Stevely** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 3:30 pm

Yes Fiona very unlucky indeed good luck with your search.
Regards Hugh.

Jockbird · Post by **Jockbird** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:15 pm

Hi Fiona,

I had a case where my gx2 grandfather drowned in the Clyde & the case went to the Procurator Fiscal.

I didn't do the search myself but someone found a write up of the circumstances in the Scotsman Archives. I didn't even know he was on a ship or the events surrounding it, I just had a date of death but that was enough for this lady to find out the info. I believe it's £8 or so for 24 hours....so have all your newspaper look ups at the ready.

As it happened my poor GGgrandfather's ship was split in two by a huge ship in the firth of Clyde and was rescued but they were unable to resuscitate him......very sad reading but a great account of what happened.

Here's hoping you find out what happened.

All the best
Donna

fmackay · Post by **fmackay** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:21 pm

Hi Donna
I wouldn't know where to start! There is no mention on death cert of where or how he died.All i have is the name of the ship he was on. Any suggestions where i might start? -
Fiona

Post by **Tracey** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:46 pm

Hi Fiona

Lesley mentioned that NMM Greenwich have records for the years ending in "5". Shame you cant get their yourself as its a wonderful library, you can almost smell the Maritime

and the staff are very helpful and friendly. If you give them a call they will give you good advice but i think unless you can get to TNA or Greenwich you are going to have to hire a researcher

.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:53 pm

Hi Fiona
Yes, but you know when he died, so it would be easy enough to check around that time if looking up a newspaper archive such as the Scotsman. The only thing is, I feel it is unlikley to have been mentioned if he died of natural causes on the ship, or it was an accident which involved only him - unless it was of a dramatic nature. If however, the ship was involved in some major happening, there is a chance it may have been reported.

The Scotsman archives are good for some things, and not for others... if he was an Edinburgh man he is maybe in with more of a chance of appearing, though again, if the incident was newsworthy enough that would not matter!
If he was not from Edinburgh area, a newspaper local to the area he lived in may be a better bet & worth contacting - there may be an obituary or an intimation in the death columns.

The Scotsman archives are at http://archive.scotsman.com

Best wishes
Lesley

TalkingScot.com

Death at sea - more info?

Death at sea - more info?

Orion

S.S. Orion