RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Somerset => Topic started by: ringwarrior on Sunday 09 September 12 17:22 BST (UK)
-
My ancestor Alfred Skinner was born in Taunton in 1866, son of Job and Emily. I have been unable to trace his death. My father told me that his grandfather Alfred had been pulled out of the canal in Taunton having either committed suicide or fallen in drunk! He remembers his father going to identify the body.
Despite this being quite a colourful story I can find no trace or record. It was about 1936 but it could be a few years earlier.
Thanks in anticipation.
-
These articles will help you to date the incident which occured in 1936:
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000513/19360520/089/0008
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000513/19360522/061/0008
You would need to buy credits to the British Newspaper Archive to view the content of the articles. One covers the period when he was missing, the other after he was found.
-
If I had the right year I would go ahead but I need to confirm the date of his death otherwise I could spend a lot and have years of papers to look through!
-
Oh gosh.
Craclyn really gave you the info that you need. Just a little patience on your part. ;)
There's probably an easier method...but.. go to:
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
Hit Advanced Search
The dates are in that link......
Maureen
-
You do have the right year. To confirm it for yourself look up Alfred Skinner Taunton on the British Newspaper Archive and you will find the articles I mentioned which will tell you exactly when it happened. If you buy some credits and click on the two links I gave you, you won't even have to hunt for yourself. They should take you directly to the articles.
-
Thank you. Sorry,I am new to this type of research, i.e. anything other than just looking up births, marriages and deaths. Also a bit senile!
-
No problem. I tried to make it as easy as I could for you without misusing a paysite, but as mentioned you cannot actually open the articles unless you pay to buy a few credits. Having these links will help you to get maximum benefit out of the credits you purchase.
-
Fascinating to read the inquest report including my grandfathers testimony. Thank you for your help.
-
What an amazing resource ! You do have to be prepared for the worse (I found a very distressing child neglect case) but mainly my forebears kept the police courts busy, some very amusing accounts! Thanks you again for opening a whole new line of research.
-
Fun isn't it? Although they were very serious events at the time I find many of the articles highly amusing just because of the way they were written. Had to laugh at a drowning article on one of my ancestors where the journalist wrote more about finding his hat than about finding his body !
-
That is interesting, perhaps indicative of a Victorian journalistic obsession with headgear. One of the (many) reports of many forebears brawling in the street put great weight on my 3 x g grandmother assaulting a fellow market trader and 'utterly destroying his hat' !
-
Couldn't resist adding the story I found of family member in Wellington (near Taunton) injured when thrown from his cart. His horse bolted when it met an elephant!
They explain how he was rescued but no explanation about elephant.
Lizb
PS I assume the circus was in town.