Author Topic: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?  (Read 928 times)

Offline rkive82

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The probate for James Zecharia Thomas (born 14th July 1869 in Adpar, Carmarthenshire) says that he "died between 29th September and 10th October 1903 in the Mersey."
Can anybody find details of his untimely death?
Thanks
Richard aka Rkive
RPJ
Jones Thomas Dickinson Paulsen Olsen Jackson Laidler Ramage Brown

Offline sgf28

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Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 03 June 18 20:25 BST (UK) »
Edinburgh Evening News 10th October 1903

'The mystery of a Welsh Doctor's disappearance has been solved by finding his body in Liverpool Docks. Dr James Thomas, who resided at Emlyn, near Aberystwyth, went to Liverpool on September 29th, to visit a brother in law. It is stated that he had some domestic trouble. The following day he went on to look around the city, and was not seen again. Efforts to trace him were fruitless until the finding of the body. Deceased was aged 34, and married.'

Offline rkive82

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Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 03 June 18 20:29 BST (UK) »
Oh dear. It sounds like a possible suicide. He was from Newcastle Emlyn on the border between Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire.
Thank you SGF.
Richard
RPJ
Jones Thomas Dickinson Paulsen Olsen Jackson Laidler Ramage Brown

Offline sgf28

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Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 03 June 18 20:32 BST (UK) »
Shields Daily News 12th October 1903 says a little bit more, won't write it all as it duplicates from the previous report:

'the disappearance was cleared up on Saturday when his body was discovered in Coburg Dock at Liverpool.'


Online Drosybont

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Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 03 June 18 20:37 BST (UK) »
A couple of articles on the Welsh Newpapers Online site, this is quite detailed:

http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3795273/3795275/21/

Drosybont
Hotham, Guilliatt, Brown, Winter, Buck, Webster, Mortimore
Richards, Meredith, Gower, Davies, Todd, Westmacott, Hill
Mid C19 Cardiff and Haverfordwest, the Marychurch family.

Offline avm228

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Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 03 June 18 20:39 BST (UK) »
The determined cause of death will be on the death certificate:

Dec qtr 1903 Toxteth Park 8b 115

James Zachariah Thomas, 34

Cross-posted - the inquest verdict is actually cited in the article linked by Drosybont
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)

Offline rkive82

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Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 03 June 18 20:45 BST (UK) »
Thanks everybody.
James was my 3rd cousin, so I won't buy the death certificate but will add the story from the Carmarthen Weekly Reporter to my tree.
I appreciate all the assistance.
Richard
RPJ
Jones Thomas Dickinson Paulsen Olsen Jackson Laidler Ramage Brown

Offline rkive82

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Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 03 June 18 21:08 BST (UK) »
Here's a tribute to Newcastle Emlyn's Dr Jim.
**
http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3865417/3865421/32/
**
... and his funeral
http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3408112/3408120/83/
**
Richard
RPJ
Jones Thomas Dickinson Paulsen Olsen Jackson Laidler Ramage Brown

Offline Blue70

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Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
« Reply #8 on: Monday 04 June 18 23:32 BST (UK) »
No inquest papers have survived from this time for Liverpool so the newspaper coverage is a good substitute.


Blue