INDIA : Death in India - COWLING, 1888

[Brentor boy]

In March 1887, Henry Cowling of Devon contracted with John Taylor and Sons, managers of the Gold Fields of Mysore, Ltd., to serve as a miner for 3years.

He died on 3rd October, 1888, and was buried at the Wesleyan Chapel Cemetery, Mysore, India

I would very much like to discover more about the circumstances/cause of his death and would welcome any suggestions of possible resources to aid me in my quest.

[philipsearching]

There was a newspaper founded in 1866 called the Mysore Gazette.  I have no idea if there is an archive available online, but there is a fair chance that the death was reported locally.

The Digital Library of India, or the University of Mysore, might have copies of the newspaper.

Good hunting
Philip

[Brentor boy]

Thanks for that. I had not considered the press. I was thinking about the possible recording of his death in company or official records.

I now have another line to pursue

[nanny jan]

This is a useful site for various Indian records:

http://www.fibis.org/


Nanny Jan

[Brentor boy]

I suppose the basic question I am asking is: where and by whom would the death of a migrant worker in India in1888 be registered? Would it be registered?

I have looked at the Fibis website and there is no indication that they might provide a gateway to such basic genealogical data, and it seems one has to join the society to find out. I am certainly not averse to the principle of paying for information, the product of other people's efforts,  but I find it strange that I cannot confirm whether Fibis might be able to help me before joining.

If I am labouring under a misunderstanding, I hope someone will enlighten me.

[nanny jan]

You can search the FIBIS database for free; you will find baptisms, marriages, deaths/burials, newspaper reports etc. It does take time to search as so much has been transcribed.  Click on "Research your Ancestors", then "Search Database";   on the left is "Quick Search"....."enter surname".

I entered Cowling and 42 sources were shown.


Nanny Jan

[ShaunJ]

I entered Cowling and 42 sources where shown.

The default search on FIBIS is a variant search. Most of those 42 hits are Cowley or Cooling or Gooling or Keeling or similar names. An exact search for Henry Cowling produces only one hit and that is for the  husband of a lady who died in Penang in 1930, aged 72: Louisa Primrose Cowling (nee Lewis).   

[Brentor boy]

Nanny Jan and Shaun. Thanks for straightening me out about navigating Fibis data base. Pity it does not appear to contain anything of direct relevance to my search.

I am convinced that Henry was so insignificant that his passing, if noted at all, would only have troubled the person responsible for recording it. Until/unless I can trace that record, I fear that I shall remain frustrated in my quest.