This John Doran is my cousin's great grandfather - or at least I think he is. He was born in Liverpool in 1861 and is missing from the 1881 census in Liverpool, though I have found the family. Presumably he is away. On his son's marriage certificate in 1902, he is described as a deceased Merchant Seaman, which would explain this.
My suspicion is that he is the man who is in the 'Deaths at Sea' which I found on FindMyPast, recorded as age 23, nationality 'Liverpool'
, apparently crew on a ship called 'Clarendon', who fell into the river when attempting to get back on board. A quick look at the British Newspaper Archives site at the library, brought up some very short reports of the inquest. The gist of this was that he was under the influence of drink, evidence given by a young woman whose name was not given. This death fits in with a family story that my cousin's great-grandfather was buried at Glasnevin.
I would like to prove this is my man. I have first obtained the burial details from the Glasnevin website. The date of the death corresponds with the 'Death at Sea' and repeats the info that he was 'Accidentally drowned in the River Liffey', adding the detail, 'at Edin Quay', but records his occupation and marital status as unknown. (He had left a wife and son in Liverpool if I'm correct.) His last address is given as the 'Steam Ship 'Lily', not the 'Clarendon'. The burial record includes an 'Informant', Eliza Flynn, 13 Bass Place, Dublin. Is this the young woman with whom he had been drinking ? Who is she ?
So where do I go from here ? Get a death certificate, which may be equally inconclusive ? Go back to the newspapers in case I missed something ? Try to trace records for the 'Clarendon' and crew lists ? (Recorded as 72241, registered in Dublin, but I can't find anything in the crew lists on the NLI website.) Any suggestions, please ?
