Howrah, Calcutta, India

[bdmayes]

John Slack, a Master Mariner, (son of Charles Slack) married Mary Ann Wise (born c1855 daughter of Robert Wise, Supt of Caledonia Dock, Howrah until his death in 1863) in 1875 in Howrah.  They had a son Charles Slack in Bombay in 1878. Mary Ann Wise and her brother George Wise, (born 1857 in Calcutta) were the beneficiaries of their mother's will (Eliza nee Roberts) after she died in Howrah in 1863. Her estate was valued then at almost £3000.

I have been unable to find out what happened to John and Mary Slack or George Wise after 1878. Can anyone help?

Brian

[miriamkinga]

There's a death in the India Deaths & Burials on the familysearch site for a John Slack, aged 28 date of death 13/01/1877. He was the Master of the Barque Mindora. Doesn't tie up with the birth date for son Charles though 

[nanny jan]

Hi,

British India Office Ecclesiastical Returns has.... Charles Slack, son of John (Master Mariner) and Mary, baptised 13 June 1876 at St.Thomas' Cathedral, Bombay;  birthdate given as 1st June 1876.

Nanny Jan

[miriamkinga]

Ooh a much better possibility 

[bdmayes]

Many thanks. I was about to correct the date of birth for Charles, having rechecked it.

This would make Mary Ann Slack a wealthy widow, so I am now looking for a remarriage for her.

[miriamkinga]

John died of cholera 

[ShaunJ]

Captain Slack's report of a fire on the Mindora http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TH18750519.2.11

[ShaunJ]

There's a death notice for John Slack in the Liverpool Mercury for 19 January 1877.

It shows how quick communications had become by then.

It says he died on January 13 at Rangoon, aged 29. Only son of Mrs Slack, 73 Falkner Street, Liverpool

[ShaunJ]

Mary A Slack is with her mother-in-law Catherine E Slack (aged 55 born Lincoln) at 74 Chatham Street, Liverpool in the 1881 census. There is also a son John R Slack aged 4, born Liverpool. No sign of Charles.

(The 1871 census shows the householder at 73 Falkner Street to be Catherine Slack, widow, 45 born Lincoln, a boarding house keeper. She has her mother Mary Wilson aged 80 with her. )