Glasgow - Stobcross Harbour - 1864

[whitej]

I would appreciate some help with a question.

My ancestor drowned in the harbour falling from a Merchant ship. I have his death certificate and read the newspaper report on the incident.

Would there have been an official report or inquiry in those days and if so where would such records be kept today? Thank you.

[seaweed]

Would there have been an official report or inquiry in those days and if so where would such records be kept today? Thank you.

Very doubtful, After 1854  the death should have been recorded in the ships logbook.This may give an account of the death in greater detail than the Death Certificate. It just depends on who wrote the details in the logbook. Do you know the name of the vessel or more importantly her Official number?
If it has survived. You may be able to order the vessels logbook from MHA in Newfoundland but an O/N is essential.
https://www.mun.ca/mha/holdings/searchcombinedcrews.php
Depending on the date the incident occured this may be recorded in the vessels first logbook for 1865. If this is the case the logbook should be held at NMM Greenwich.

[Skoosh]

wj,   no Coroner's Courts in Scotland, it would be a matter for the Procurator Fiscal whether or not there was a Fatal Accident Inquiry, (FAI) try the records of the NRS & check,


https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/fatal-accident-inquiry-records

Skoosh.

[whitej]

Thanks for both replies.

I don't have the number.

The ship was Wild Horse out of Windsor, Nova Scotia. My ancestor was living in Edinburgh at the time and was mate on the ship.

[seaweed]

The  logbooks of WILD HORSE official number 48450 appears to have been lost or destroyed.
https://www.mun.ca/mha/holdings/viewcombinedcrews.php?Official_No=48450

[whitej]

thank you. That is a shame.

I wonder if a picture of it exists?

[Lodger]

If there had been a Fatal Accident Enquiry, it would have been noted on the left-hand margin of the death certificate. It would be in the form of an "R.C.E." an entry in the Register of Corrected Entries.
As you have the death certificate (presumably from Scotlandspeople?) you will be able to determine this for yourself. If there is no RCE then the Procurator fiscal will have been satisfied that death occurred from a straightforward drowning, with no suspicious circumstances.

[whitej]

Thank you Lodger no RCE on death certificate.