alexander turnbull kedddie brand mccolgan

[lyndsey86]

I am trying to find a death for the above. Alexander McColgan was born 1913 in Edinburgh, Scotland, his parents were James McColgan and Elizabeth Brand. On Ancestry I have found a Alexander dod 1939, Neath, Glamorganshire. It states that he would have been 26 years old when he died, which ties up with my dates. I have called the Register Office in Neath, etc, they have said there was a inquest held, have called the Coroners Office, and have been informed that all records were destroyed in a flood. I also know that the death certificate doesn't revel his parents etc. I have been told he was a Sea Farer person, the story from our relatives say he did go to sea, hope someone can help.

Ann Benson

[heddwch]

The inquest should have been published in the local newspaper togeather with his funeral detail, perhaps you could try that. Try the local library for help.
Happy searching
\Heddwch

[Romilly]

Hi Ann,

I had similar problems with an inquest held on the death of my late Uncle in Swansea in 1930.

Apparantly the papers were held at Swansea Library until they were water damaged in 1973, - and all thrown away:-(

A kind person on here found a (brief) report of the Inquest verdict in the South Wales Post, and as heddwch says, - there should be a death & funeral announcement in the paper too.

Do you have this chap's birth certificate? Sometimes people were buried where the family lived, not where they died. Another thought...1939 was of course the year WW2 began, and so the papers might not have devoted so much space to local news...?

Romilly.

[lyndsey86]

 I have called the local library and they have found no mention of it. Not sure where to go from here.

Ann

[Romilly]

I have called the local library and they have found no mention of it. Not sure where to go from here.

Ann

Do you mean Neath Library, - where the Death was registered?

Romilly.

[lyndsey86]

It was Neath Library, Victoria Gardens , West Glamorgan.

Ann

[Romilly]

If you're not near Neath yourself, you could put a request on here asking if anyone could check the Neath papers for 1930 for you.

Romilly.

[lyndsey86]

The library did and found nothing. I am in Scotland.

Ann

[bevbee]

Hello Ann,

I've had a good search of the "South Wales Evening Post" and "The Western Mail" for you and found this printed on the 20th November 1939 (I checked Free BMDs first and found him in the Dec 1/4);

"The body of Andrew McColyon, a native of Glasgow, who had been reported missing from his ship, the Eden Force, since Armistice night, was recovered from Port Talbot Docks yesterday morning.
McColyon went ashore alone, and it is believed that he missed his footing in the black-out while boarding his ship and drowned"

Now, I know the name is wrong but it's too close for me to ignore it in the paper considering the details you know. I'll leave it to you to decide whether he's your man.

I would expect the inquest to have been held soon after but I searched to the end of December and didn't find anything - it seems to have been quite a common occurrence at the time  - someone missing from a ship and then found drowned - and I doubt they would report every similar inquest.

There was a small piece in the Western Mail saying he was a fireman on the ship.

I think it would be a good idea if you searched the Glasgow papers as it would probably have a larger report in his local press.

If you want the cuttings PM me with your e-mail address and I'll send them straight to you.

Bev.