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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: rkive82 on Sunday 03 June 18 20:15 BST (UK)

Title: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
Post by: rkive82 on Sunday 03 June 18 20:15 BST (UK)
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
Title: Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
Post by: sgf28 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.'
Title: Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
Post by: rkive82 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
Title: Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
Post by: sgf28 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.'
Title: Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
Post by: Drosybont 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
Title: Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
Post by: avm228 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
Title: Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
Post by: rkive82 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
Title: Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
Post by: rkive82 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
Title: Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
Post by: Blue70 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
Title: Re: James Zecharia Thomas - did he drown in the Mersey about 30th September 1903?
Post by: rkive82 on Monday 04 June 18 23:36 BST (UK)
Thank you Blue.
Yes. The newspaper article has given me a lot of information about Dr Jim's death.
Richard