Genealogy Chat

Would anyone know if a death at sea was recorded ashore in the same way as other deaths. My great grandad,a merchant seaman,died at sea around 1890 (out of North Shields/Tynemouth) leaving a widow and two baby daughters one of whom was my grandmother.
Any info greatly appreciated.

Mike

Im always a bit confused by these - but I take it you havent been able to find him on the normal freebmd or ancestry complete bmd? Familyrelatives.org and Find my past site have pay to view deaths at sea.
Give us his name and the details in case anyone can help on here.

Hi Mike,


I'm happy to search findmypast for you.


Deb:)

if he was in the merchant navy then a marine death cert would be issued.
I have one for 1911 for my grandfather who was lost overboard from a merchant navy vessel. plus i found the actual ships log at National Archives Kew

Many thanks one and all.I have not been able to find him in the BMD lists and his name was Robert Dunn born 1863 and died at sea as a master mariner around 1890. An aged aunt recalls her mother saying that Robert was taken ill at sea and later died.He was from Tynemouth/North Shields in Northumberland. Do the National Archives in Kew require a personal visit?

Thanks

Mike

Found this.

1901
GRO MARINE DEATHS INDICES (1846 to 1902

DUNN R M aged 35yrs. = Vessel name - Astrakhan - Page 13


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I searched from 1880 - 1905

There was a Robert died in 1884 aged 19yrs, but figured he was too young.

Many thanks Sue,so kind of you!

The 1901 entry looks very interesting.I had forgotten that Robert was in the 1891 census but not in the 1901.When my aunt said her grandad had died early when her mum was very young, that could be from 2 years to 9 or 10 years old.
Must get on the case!

Thanks again

Mike

Now you have a vessel name then you will need a personal visit to Kew to view the ships log. You can have photocopies of it tho but needs to be done at Kew. thats how i found grandads ships log once I knew the vessel name.
i have tried to view it since on the National Archives site but it isnt yet availble online

Ive never found my John Thomas Steers, a mariner who disappears between 1861 - 1871 when wife becomes a widow. I shall go and see if he is on the familyrellies site.

Thank you Shirley
Time to drag myself away from the computer for a field trip,I need the fresh air!

Thanks

Mike