Death at seA

[paulsplace2009]

Hello

I have an ancestor who died at sea between 1870 and 1877.

All of my research , including poor law records leads me to believe this.

I am wondering, as he died at sea, would his wife had to obtain a death certificate, or would she just have been notified of his death and that would have been it?

Many thanks

Paul

[ScouseBoy]

Was he employed by the Royal Navy  or in the Merchant Navy?

[paulsplace2009]

Hello, yes, from what I believe.

He was a merchant seaman

Many thanks

[ScouseBoy]

Have you searched for his death certificate on the ordinary death index, yet?

[dowdstree]

As Scouse Boy said you should look for a death index.

I have an ancestor who was lost at sea in 1876 and there is a death certificate for him. He was a fisherman lost in the North Sea and his death was registered in the normal way.

Perhaps it is different if you were a Merchant Seaman but there has to be some kind of record somewhere I would think.

Dorrie

[jaybelnz]

Marine Register of Deaths at Sea.

[matt muir]

Try Scotlandspeople deaths under  Minor Records, then Marine Returns/ Register.

Matt

[seaweed]

FindMyPast has records of seamen and passengers who died whilst on board a British registered vessels.
The Deaths at Sea register should tell you, the name of the ship, her official number, cause of death, place of death. This information usually comes from the vessels logbook. When the vessel returns to a UK port details from the logbook are transcribed by Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, who in turn passes it to the Registrar Generals for England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Which ever is appropriate.
Unless there was doctor on board, no Death Certificate was issued. A shorter copy may be obtained from GRO which is usually a copy of the details contained within the register compiled by RGSS.

[buckhyne]

My direct ancestor James Lawrie fell from the topsailyard of the sailing ship Miramichi in the Atlantic on Christmas day, 1865.
I cannot find his death in SP or FindMyPast.
I found his death in a January 4th, 1866 newspaper the Glasgow Daily Herald.
That is the only proof and description of his death.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=460914.9
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