FACTORY ACCIDENT DEATH

[Marjorie]

I am trying to confirm the date of death of my great grandfather, Henry William Brookes.   According to his son's memoirs he died from burns caused by a burst pot of molten metal  in a factory accident at Kynocks in Birmingham in October 1901.    

I have been unable to find a Henry William Brookes death registered in October 1901, however I have found a death certificate for Henry William Brookes, a Nickel Caster Journeyman, who died in October 1902 of peritonitis and typhoid fever.    I am pretty sure that this is my grt. grandfather but the causes of death seem so very different!    

His age, 30 is correct, his widow is C Brookes (my grt. grandmother was Clara), and the address given is (I found out from a map of the area) just round the corner from where they were living in Aston Manor  for the census in 1901.  

With your experience do you think I can take this as my great grandfather?  Or is there anyway I can find details of the accident?

[Chris in 1066Land]

Marjorie

My thoughts on your problem:

1. Sons memoirs say he died of burns, but how long after the accident.
2. If he died in October, death would be registered within 30days, but if he lived a bit after the accident, maybe death was not registered until January the following year.
3.  A Nickel Caster journeyman could burn himself in the course of his work - systems in body weaken whilst trying to repair burns - makes him vunerable to other illness's
4. Age is correct, Widows name begins with correct letter, street address is very near to his location

Have you checked any local newspapers of the time to see if the accident was reported - If he HAD died as a result of that accident, then there would have been an inquest - the outcome of the inquest would also have been in the paper.

You will never really be 100% certain - but most of the signs (about 90%) indicate it is the same - I would go with the flow until you can prove otherwise.

Thats my thoughts for what they are worth

Chris in 1066Land

[Marjorie]

Thanks for your comments Chris.

I have tried the Aston Manor website to see if there was any report  there but to no avail.      I also found, on The National Register of Archives,  a reference to '1893 - 1904 Kynoch Ltd Medical Care Committee Minutes' and got quite excited - however the archivist very kindly had a quick look and said there was nothing at all about an accident during 1901 or 1902.    So, I think I will have to leave it at that for the time being anyway.

Marj