Seaham Harbour Inquest Mystery

[Genie24]

I am trying to positively identify my husband's great x 3 grandfather who I believe to be Owen McMann or McMahon born about 1809 Ireland and died on the 20th March 1871 Seaham Harbour.

I base this theory on the fact that my husband's great, great grandmother, Elizabeth McMahon,  is recorded on her marriage as spinster, full age of Seaham Harbour daughter of Owen McMann Labourer. His great grandmother, Mary Cavannah,  is recorded on her baptism as being child of Edward Cavanagh and Elizabeth nee McMahon. There are several McMahons and McManns and other spellings in the census records living in the Sunderland and Easington  area  so it seems the surname is subjected to a variety of spellings. However, he does seem to be the only Owen McMann living in Seaham Harbour and the census records show he was a labourer. 

I purchased Owen McMann's death certificate hoping that it would yield some information such as address and who was the informant as  I need to establish if his wife, who I believe to be Bridget Woods, was living or deceased at the time. I have a death for her after Owen's death date,  which I now believe may  be another Bridget. However, the certificate revealed that he had been killed accidentally by being run over by a truck. The address was just Seaham Harbour and the informant was the coroner - Crofton Maynard. So I looked on Find My Past to see if there was anything in the newspapers about it and all they have is a very brief article in the Newcastle Journal on the 23rd March 1871 re the inquest held on the 22nd March 1871. It states that the accident happened at the chemical works and referred to the incident being reported in 'yesterday's impression' which would be the 22nd March. I cannot seem to be able to find this article which may give more information. Even his burial record does not record his address.

Does anyone have any advice about how I can find this newspaper article or the Inquest report itself.

[Tickettyboo]

Newcastle Courant 24 Mar 1871, page 5, col 3

LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS

An old man, named Owen McMann, between 60
and 70 years of age, was accidentally killed at Seaham
Harbour, while at work as a waggon driver, on Monday

Boo

[Genie24]

Thanks for this. At least a bit more. It explains the job he was doing.

[AlanBoyd]

Wednesday 22 March 1871: Newcastle Journal

[AlanBoyd]

There is an 1871 census record for a Bridget McMann, widow, 67, Ireland. She seems to be sharing a house with the family of a William Lee, and she has a visitor Ann Woods, 12, born Durham, Newbottle.

The address is in Dawdon, as are there previous Seaham addresses. It is in William St.

[Genie24]

Thanks for your input Alan,

So, it looks like there is going to be no further information from the newspaper entries.

Yes, hat is the 1871 census I have attached to Owen's wife Bridget.  She appears with her husband on the 1851 and 1861 censuses prior to that.

 In 1851 living at Back Terrace. Surname Mackmann. Owen was working as a Railway Labourer. Also living there are sons James and John and Hugh Wood along with several other lodgers and visitors.   I deduced Bridget was nee Woods as her son John, born 1849,  has a mother with maiden name Wood on the GRO Birth Index. He died shortly after the census.

In 1861, they were living at Malcolm's Yard. Owen is recorded as a Labourer. Also living there was son John aged 20, servant Mary A Wood and  boarders  Peter Woods and Peter Warren.

I worked out that Hugh Wood and Mary A Wood are the children of John Wood and Mary McNally. I have John Wood hypothetically as a brother of Bridget. They were living at North Terrace, Seaham Harbour in 1851 and John was also working as a Railway Labourer. They had children Rose, Margaret, Bernard, Hugh and Mary Ann. According to online trees, John Wood died in Durham about  1860, but I can't find any evidence of this and his wife took Bernard and Hugh to Pennsylvania, arriving in New York in 1865. Rose was already there, arriving 1863. Not sure about Margaret but her daughter was born there in 1869. Mary Ann ends up there but I don't know when.

I am wondering if Bridget went there herself and the death I have for her in 1882 is another Bridget.

Until recently, I had her on the 1861 census at another address, Back Rail Street, living with son John, his wife Sarah and his son John. So, if you put a search in for James McMann in that census, 3 come up, all living in Seaham Harbour. But, what I didn't realise, is that the Bridget on the one living at Back Rail Street was 10 years older than my Bridget so I think the death is more likely to be her.

Looks like I've hit a brick wall.