Can't make out word on signature block

[heliboy]

I wonder if anyone can help me.

I have been trying to track down one of my ancestors and finally discovered he appears to have ended up in S Africa - returning there a few years after serving in the Boer War.

I have found his death notice - but know nothing more than he arrived in 1906 and died of malaria 7 years later.  He is listed as having no spouse or children (his illegitimate son not making the list!)

I know nothing more of what he did after emigrating - the signature block in question has been signed by his employer - if the missing word is his occupation it may fill in the final piece of the puzzle as to what he ended up doing.

I make the signature "James Macdonell"
And "Employer of decd (deceased)"
The mystery word has a full stop after it as does the name and relationship above suggesting it is a separate piece of information.

It looks like "Lawbody?" - but that doesn't mean anything to me

Any ideas?

[Treetotal]

Hi Heliboy and welcome to RootsChat...are you able to post a snip of the part that you can't decipher.
Added: I see it has appeared now. Looks like Sawbody?
Carol

[Rena]

"Sawbody employer of deceased"

but should the first word be two words? = "Saw body"..... (signed by) "employer of dec'd" (deceased)

[Anni B]

Looks like "Lawful" to me

[Anni B]

...meant so say "lawfully".

[heliboy]

Rena and treetotal - looks like you are both correct and it is a dead end
It is undoubtedly "saw body" ie identified the corpse.  After your suggestion I searched adjoining documents which contained the qualifier 'surviving spouse - saw deceased after death and 2 days prior'

Thanks for putting me our of my misery - I have spent quite a bit of time trying to work out what line of business Mr Macdonell had been in!

[Anni B]

There I was, barking up the wrong tree  good to see you've got an answer

[heliboy]

As my gg-grandfather was a carpenter/wainwright the 'saw' was looking hopeful and the only reference to a John MacDonell I can find in South Africa in any period overlapped perfectly and was a constable the 'law' was looking good too...

Unfortunately I can't find any real info so will probably have to speculate as to whether gg-granda S -
 an Englishman brought up in the north of Scotland - ended up working for a copper in the Transvaal

Thanks to all for your help

[Skoosh]

By the Macdonell spelling he was possibly from the Lochaber area & probably a Catholic?

Skoosh.