Death of Beatrix (Bessie) Coutts ?

[johnbarr]

I have been asked by a friend to help locate the death of her relative Bessie Coutts.

Bessie was born in Shetland, Scotland abt 1816. She married Robert Henry in Scotland 1842.
Robert died 15/1/1873 and later that year widow Bessie sailed to Nelson on the "Ocean Mail" with her married son Peter, his wife and child, and three other children. On the passenger list her age is shown as 54 (so d.o.b. 1819).

Bessie married John Sinclair in Nelson 21/6/1881 at her son's home at Russell St Nelson.
ITM shows her age as 50 (??) and his age 46.

This is the last confirmed record of her in NZ. John Sinclair died Nelson 1921.

A Bessie Sinclair died 3/9/1899 in Wellington and is buried at Karori aged 80. It seems likely that this is our Bessie, but I am wondering how we can confirm that? I have searched Archway and not found any record of a Will or Probate. I have not been able to find any death notice.

Cemetery records show Plot number 188 B, Record number 66536.
Has anyone had any experience of searching Wgtn Cemetery records in 1890's and if so, what might they reveal?

Any help or suggestions appreciated,
Thanks.

[Jomot]

The Bessie Sinclair who died in Wellington in 1899 had a son-in-law named T Kelly, if that helps?

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01k2v/

[johnbarr]

Thanks Jomot, I'd missed that notice, but the Nelson connection is promising.

I'll check on the Kelly possibility.

[johnbarr]

Mary Henry married Thomas Kelly 1884, so possibly the daughter Mary who arrived with Bessie on Ocean Mail, 1873 aged 14.

[Jomot]

Fingers crossed !

[johnbarr]

An earlier comment from my friend "I looked at some rolls and found a Bessie HENRY Wellington Supplementary roll 1896 at Mount View asylum , listed as "housework residential"( if she is our Bessie she would have gone back to her name from her first marriage  and would be 80 years old."

I found ER's for Wellington 1890 to 1900 show "Kelly, Thomas;  Mount View asylum, as warder and then head attendant, residential"

Certainly looking very promising!
 

[Lucy2]

A Bessie Sinclair died 3/9/1899 in Wellington and is buried at Karori aged 80. It seems likely that this is our Bessie, but I am wondering how we can confirm that?

Cemetery records show Plot number 188 B, Record number 66536.
Has anyone had any experience of searching Wgtn Cemetery records in 1890's and if so, what might they reveal?

Hi John

There doesn't seem to have been a headstone for this Bessie SINCLAIR.

Try checking with the Karori Cemetery Office to see if they have any additional information.

http://wellington.govt.nz/services/community-and-culture/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
> click-on link at bottom of page.

   ~  Lu

[minniehaha]

Will of John Sinclair executed in 1918. No mention of Bessie, confirming that she had already died?

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89L6-BHTD?mode=g&i=329&cc=1865481


Minniehaha.

[johnbarr]

Thanks Lu, I've written to the Karori office - should have thought of that myself 

Thanks Minniehaha, that's interesting. Yes, we suspect she had left John Sinclair and was living in Wellington with one of her children, likely Mary who was married to Thomas Kelly.