Needle in haystack? Death details wanted, 1872

[ainslie]

A distant connection, Thomas Morris Smith, died in the United States on 12 March 1872, according to an affidavit in family possession.  He had been in Liverpool, UK with relatives at the 1871 census (2 April).
I have no more about him, other than his birth in Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland on 7 January 1852.
Is there any central registration system, or would it be necessary to search state by state?

Thanks in advance
Ainslie

[Gadget]

There's a death record for a Thomas M Smith, aged 20, born England , died Boston Mass on 11 March 1872 in the Massachusetts Death Records.

I'll see if I can find more.

Gadget

Added - just found the image - it could be on Family search but I could send you a copy if you PM me an e-mail address.

[Gadget]

He was a Clerk, single and died of congestion of lungs. Died 110 Marginal Street, East Boston.

Father was listed as Thomas, b. England. Informant was a W H Brown

[Gadget]

Link to the FS record:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7R9-N95

Added - it names a 'wife' but the image has him as single. I think it's ben miss transcribed from the entry above.

[ainslie]

Many thanks for all that detail.  I have looked at the image via your link and it all adds up, apart from father's name.  The age fits with the known date of birth.  His father was Ralph, but his grandfather was Thomas.  Ralph is a bit of a mystery, too, having gone to India and died there.  Perhaps granddad took father's role...
Very grateful
Ainslie

[Gadget]

Have you looked at the 1861?

15 Cresswell Street, Everton
RG09/2713/100/2

Rebecca Morris, widow, 77, Proprietor of houses, b. Whitehaven
Mary Smith, dau, mar, 31, b. Liverpool
Thomas Morris Smith, grdson, 9, b. Berwick on Tweed
Ann Davies, servant, unm, house servant, b. Bolton

Gadget

[ainslie]

Yes, thanks, I had that ok.  Mary’s husband and Thomas’s father Ralph went off to India but soon died of cholera, date and place unknown.  He had been a fish merchant in Berwick.  Probably a dead end, and no results from FIBIS or British Library searches.
Thanks once more.
A

[Gadget]

There's a online tree, which you might have seen, that has a Thomas Morris Smith buried in Sefton, 8 June 1880. However, the GRO death record has him as aged 5, so obviously not your Thomas. Ralph is shown as dying 'about 1860'  but the 1861 has Mary as married.

I'm always suspicious of online trees!

Sorry, if you've already seen this.

Gadget

Added - and Thomas Morris, is given as 1783 - to 11 June 1848,Liverpool

[ainslie]

After some mishaps I have a distrust of online stuff but it can be a useful signpost - sometimes.  There are two online trees, the first I know about and have had contact with the owner who is a far-off cousin.  The other I do not know but feel that they are not related.
Like you I mistrust the Sefton burial, and will make an approach.
A