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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: Rakiura John on Thursday 10 January 19 21:37 GMT (UK)
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In 1902, Thomas Blain Scott (born c1860, Ireland) was convicted of trespass (arising from a matrimonial separation order) and sentenced to 3 months imprisonment [Western Star, 3 Aug 1902]. A warrant was accordingly issued for his arrest but he ran for it.
NZ Police Gazette 1902, Vol 26, Pg 200 states: “OREPUKI – Thomas Blain Scott is charged on warrant of commitment for three months for trespass. Description: A native of NZ [actually Ireland], bootmaker, labourer, and fireman, aged 48 [actually c42], 5 ft 6˝ in., dark hair and moustache and may grow a beard; small scar on left eyebrow, slightly bald, fond of drink, and very quarrelsome … He was seen in Invercargill on the 31st ultimo, and may attempt to leave the colony as fireman on one of the boats.”
It seems the Police never caught up with him.
In 1907, Lake Wakatip Mail, 15 Oct 1907, published a story entitled “HOW A HERO DIED” about the grounding and wreck of the Poitou, a French liner, off the coast of Uruguay, near Montevideo. It reads:
“... one of the few Britishers aboard, a fireman named Thomas Scott gallantly volunteered to carry the line and swim ashore. On reaching the land those there considered it necessary to get a second line to the ship, and, as no one else was game, Scott, already badly knocked about, boldly went into the raging surf. He made a desperate fight to reach the ill-fated steamer, and sank, to rise no more, within ten feet of the vessel's side … No one knows anything of the drowned hero's past, whether he was married, nor in fact anything about the man. The record of his bravery is, however, to remain, as a monument is being erected to his memory by residents of Monte Video and surrounding districts. [If nothing was known about him, the monument won't give any clues about his identity].
There are good grounds for the supposition that the hero … is none other than Thomas Scott, shoemaker … who left Orepuki some five years ago. Since then it is known that he had been employed as a fireman on some vessel, and the heroic deed described above would be but in keeping with his nature. Enquiries are being made on behalf of his relatives from the British Consul at Monte Video.”
I have found no further newspaper reports regarding the outcome of those enquiries, and as far as I can tell the matter has simply fallen into family lore, a great story.
This morning I rechecked Archway and, blow me down, I found the following:
“Central Filing System [record group]
From: W.P. [William Pember] Reeves, High Commissioner for NZ, London, Date 4 Oct 1907
Subject: Inquiry for missing person Thomas Scott.
Date Range: 1907-1907. Last Dept Responsible: Dept of Internal Affairs, Head Office [record group]. Open Access, Wellington. R24761049. Addit. Archive Description: Police Reports Attached”.
Never having ordered a copy of such a record from Archives NZ (and it may be a large file as it contains Police Reports), am I best to take a trip to Wellington and view it in person? I may find it is unrelated. Any suggestions?
John
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Hello
If you PapersPast search "steamer Poitou" you can find a number of accounts between May and September, that report on the sinking. Your clip above appears to carry most detail. With the help of specialist researchers, you might be able to locate some crewing records, that are of interest.
Alan.
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Thanks Alan. As the Police were looking for him, I expect they went down that route, checking French crewing records. I would hope the Archway file (with attached Police reports) will provide the outcome of any such Police inquiries, or at least indicate whether such inquires were done.
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hi John,
I can get that file for you.
Spades
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Spades, that would be brilliant. Not sure what protocol is. Obviously only when it suits you, absolutely no hurry. Any likely significant expenses?
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A death:
1963/32115 Scott Thomas Blain 83Y
[Incorrect age for your man]
Minniehaha.
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Thanks Minnie. Yes, that's my guy's eldest son.
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Hi John,
None at all, this is RootsChat ;)
I should be able to get in to Archives next week.
Spades
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Spades,
This is RootsChat.
Don't say that too loud. My wife says it sounds like a front for a site of ill-repute, that moderator Spades sounds like the site's large, dark, leather-clad slave-master … (I wonder if she secretly wants to meet you). I patiently explain that, to the contrary, I expect you are a small, bespectacled history professor, with a name associated to digging up the past, or, your name is Doug.
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Blimey, she's bang on, and she hasn't even met me! LOL
A bit more like a bottle-washer and picking up the Jaffa's that someone keeps rolling down the aisles when I'm away.
Spades (now slightly self-conscious and looking for me whip... ::))
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[quote ]
I expect you are a small, bespectacled history professor, with a name associated to digging up the past, or, your name is Doug.
[/quote]
Hahahaha that is soooooo funny.You don't know our Spades
Cheers Janette
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Type 'Professor with camera' into a google pix search, AND you get some unlikely starter's.
We would be at a loss without our Moderator, and his sense of humour.
Alan.
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Type 'Professor with camera' into a google pix search, AND you get some unlikely starter's.
We would be at a loss withour our Moderator, and his sense of humour.
Alan.
I just looked at that Alan, some of them are really funny! I copied one in particular for Spades, labelled "Professor Flash and the Giant Camera Project", can't post in here because we can't post IPad images on RC! Would you be willing to post it for me please??
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I have done the same, but not prepared to publish photos of the living OR I too will get a canning from de big boss in the UK. Neither does RC enable sending images via PM.
I have an advantage though, as he has emailed me numerous photos taken with his trusty camera of HISTORIC [Eg 100 years +] images. I too have never seen a photo of 'spades'.
But enough we have started to run away with the OP's thread. Trouble is I'm hand tied and bored.
Alan.
PS Found it. Inanimate copyright Q
https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=professor+flash+and+giant+camera&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=X4zW6QO9FnadrM%253A%252C5icShlPGbQzLaM%252C_&usg=AI4_-kTP7q2YbG-8Bfk3jshpm9X0vjiDXw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwivgOj0_OjfAhWFT30KHTdPDlIQ9QEwAXoECAUQBg&biw=1536&bih=802&dpr=1.25#imgrc=1x6IbSz2G9lpXM:
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It's not a living person in the photo I have just emailed you Alan! ;D
Sorry, just checked, "possibly under copyright"
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Spades, [Mission Brief]. Should the file be larger than can be fully copied, could you please keep an eye out for any incidental info regarding him and his family members. For instance, I know his approx. birthdate and that he was born in Ireland, but the Police file may elaborate on this, such as where in Ireland and his actual birthdate, etc.. (I know his younger siblings, 1864-1868) were born in Grangee, Donaghadee, Co Down, but it may be his parents lived elsewhere when he was born). The Police file may mention family members they interviewed in NZ (I'm still trying to find a sibling Catherine and it would be handy if the file gave her married name or whether she was still alive in 1907). There even may be a photo or two of him which would be good to have. This is of course all assuming the file does in fact relate to my guy. Good luck, spades. [As always, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions, this message will self-destruct etc etc.]
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Hi John,
I suspect that the file will comprise only a few pages and focus on the circumstances of his death, but I’ll photograph the whole file for you regardless of size.
Spades
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Nope, I was wrong, there's some valuable information in the file - twenty pages worth.
John, can you please PM me with your email address.
Spades
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Hi Spades. Thanks for getting that file. Unfortunately it doesn't relate to my Thomas Blain Scott or the wreck of the Poitou.
[The file relates to a Missing Friend enquiry dated 1907 received from Smeall & Veitch, Writers, Jedburgh, looking for a Thomas Scott, Farm Servant, thereafter Farmer, who resided in the parish of Roxburgh, married Janet Lindsay of Gilliestongue, near Jedburgh, and who emigrated to New Zealand “40 or 50 years ago”, and who was last heard of about “30 years ago” when he was at Dalla [sic] Farm, Auckland.
There are letters (1908) on the file from an Ebenezer Lindsay of Clarence St, Ponsonby, stating that he came to New Zealand with Thomas Scott and Janet Lindsay (who was his sister) aboard the ship “Red Jacket” in 1859 or 1860; that Thomas Scott managed a farm named The Delta at or near Hobsonville for a Mr Larkworthy which farm is now in the possession of Annie Scott, a daughter of Thomas Scott; that Thomas Scott died about 16 years ago, and his wife about 5 years previously; that there were 12 children of the marriage – Robert, Lizzie, William, Annie & Grace (now at Hobsonville), John, James & Maggie (now live in Waikato), Alexandra [sic] (lives in Sydney NSW), Thomas (accidentally killed some years ago in Hamilton, Waikato), the other two died young aboard the “Red Jacket”.
Another memo on the file states that this Thomas Scott died on 3 September 1892 at Hobsonville.]