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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: d_j_m on Friday 22 December 17 03:51 GMT (UK)

Title: UK Death Record for Tobago 1825
Post by: d_j_m on Friday 22 December 17 03:51 GMT (UK)

Hi

My GGG Grandfather died in Tobago in 1825. I discovered this by a lucky chance as I searched for his son's name at the National Archive and discovered that this boy applied to attend Greenwich Hospital School. I purchased the record and the application gave details of his father's maritime career.

I followed up with an enquiry to a family history researcher who photographed the burial record in Tobago. He was 32. From this information I was able to pinpoint his likely baptism and parents.

Does anyone know if there would be an official record of my GGG Grandfather's death, as a British Citizen who had died abroad? He was a Master Mariner working between Bristol and latterly Tobago. I'm keen to find out more about the circumstances of his death (probably fever) and what happened to his family back in Bristol. I know they returned to North Shields.

Thanks in anticipation.

Title: Re: UK Death Record for Tobago 1825
Post by: rosie99 on Friday 22 December 17 07:22 GMT (UK)

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/birth-marriage-death-sea-or-abroad/

Title: Re: UK Death Record for Tobago 1825
Post by: d_j_m on Saturday 23 December 17 22:57 GMT (UK)

Thanks rosie99 - I shall explore the National Archive however the records for this seem to start mid 19 century.

Title: Re: UK Death Record for Tobago 1825
Post by: ShaunJ on Sunday 24 December 17 09:37 GMT (UK)

You should be able to find his ship's muster book at the National Archives in BT98. There could be some clues there (though it may just record that he died).

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/crew-lists-agreements-log-books-merchant-ships-1747-1860/

Title: Re: UK Death Record for Tobago 1825
Post by: d_j_m on Sunday 24 December 17 12:18 GMT (UK)

Thanks ShaunJ - I'll definitely pursue this. I have a few details, see below, but not the cause of his death or any other details.

I know his ship, the John and Robert arrived at Tobago on 17 March 1825, referring to the Master as Scott (Lloyds list).  Lloyds list for July 15 1825 reports the John and Robert returned to Bristol on 13 July 1825, referring to the Master as 'late Scott'.

'Records of Bristol Ships 1800 - 1830', by Grahame Farr, indicates that George Mason was appointed Master of the John and Robert at Tobago on 10 May 1825.

Thomas Scott's burial record was dated 28 April 1825.

Many thanks and Merry Christmas.

Title: Re: UK Death Record for Tobago 1825
Post by: seaweed on Sunday 24 December 17 19:33 GMT (UK)

As far as I am aware Muster rolls/crew agreements/ logbooks for the port of Bristol are not available before 1831. I suspect that they were destroyed when Bristol Custom House was set on fire during the riots of the same year.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_srt=3&_ep=bristol&_cr=bt98&_dss=range&_ro=any&_st=adv

Have you contacted Bristol Archives to see if they can help you, also Trinidad and Tobago Archives have Newspapers from 1825. May be worth an email.  :)

Title: Re: UK Death Record for Tobago 1825
Post by: d_j_m on Sunday 24 December 17 20:48 GMT (UK)

Thanks Seaweed. I shall try Bristol and TT Archive Newspapers.