Genealogy Chat

I know my husband's grandfather died of natural causes 12 Dec 1931 at sea. I've found a couple of newspaper cuttings to confirm this. He was a skipper on board a trawler and his body was brought back to Lowestoft, his home town. A post mortem was carried out but an inquest was not necessary.

I have searched the complete BMD Index for this quarter with no success and as there is no coroners report I don't know where else to look. Any suggestions please?

Jo

Did you search the first quarter 1932 ? if he is not their you could try the oversea section on Find my past as his death details could be there

Roy

Roy
Thanks for the suggestions. I've just now checked the first quarter of 1932 but nothing obvious. I'll take a look at the Find my Past site.

Would his death be registered at the nearest town to the fishing area where death was discovered or at Lowestoft where the body was taken and post mortem carried out?

Jo

Jo, put his details on here and i'm sure one of us may come up with it for you if it has been regisrered

stephanie

The General Register Office's Marine Registers record deaths at sea on ships registered in Great Britain or Ireland from 1 July 1837. These are available on film or fiche through LDS libraries everywhere. The IGI covers events 'at sea.' If the name you are seeking does not appear in the Marine Registers of the GRO, then you should consider a search in the records held at the Public Record Office in Kew, England

Would this mean that you won't find it on the bmd index?

OK Stephanie heregoes, but I warn you it's turning into a brick wall.

William George Smith died, as above, 12 Dec 1931, at sea on boat a fishing trawler. Body brought back to Lowestoft and buried after post mortem. No inquest required.

Married Annie Emma Smith (maiden name) 25 Dec 1897 at Gunton, Suffolk, giving father's name as Joseph Smith. Both men are fishermen.

Birth is still uncertain. At marriage W.G.'s age is given as 26 i.e. birth year 1871. Unfortunately, in the 1931 newspaper reports of the death and burial there are three ages given - 58, 59 & 60!!

I have his children but can't go back further with any certainty.

Jo

Who is Joseph the father for? Annie or William?

Ozi.

I should add that I have found two Census taken on board two fishing boats both with a William Smith of the right age and from Suffolk. First is the 'Thomas' in 1891 and second is 'Success' in 1901.

Also I have asked about crews lists at Lowestoft library but was told that no personal information was on the lists - only age date of joining the boat. i was hoping to find next of kin or dependents.

Jo

Ozbird,

Joseph is William George's father. Annie's ancestors are pretty well known.

Jo

This isn't him?

Births Jun 1858
Smith William George Mutford 4a 668

Sorry Ozbird, to early.
I'm looking for around 1871 but Mutford would be good.
Jo

Kathleen helped last night when I was trying to establish the birth. I have a certificate 4a 734 for a William George Smith born 1 Jun 1871 Blundeston, Suffolk to a Harriet Smith. No father mentioned. I have no way of deciding if this is really my William.

Harriet is found in 1871 census with parents and 1881 where it looks as if she's changed her surname to Hales. Husband is another William but no sign of any Joseph Smith. This could well be a red herring.

Sorry Jo, I was looking at the 58, 59 & 60 from the newspaper reports & converting them to '58, '59 & '60.

Ozi.

So this is the one you've already got but not sure it's your bloke?.

Births Jun 1871
Smith William George Mutford 4a 734

Ozi.

So if you think the bloke/s you found on the vessels is yours:
1891 he's born Lowestoft.
1901 he's born Hopton, Suffolk (4 miles north of Lowestoft.)

Both in the reg.n district of Mutford.

Ozi.

For reference:


Name: William Smith
Age: 9
Estimated birth year: abt 1872
Relation: Son
Father's name: William George
Mother's name: Harriet
Gender: Male
Where born: Blundeston, Suffolk, England

Civil parish: Hopton
County/Island: Suffolk
Country: England

Street address: Warren Road Fullers Cottage

Occupation: Scholar

Registration district: Mutford
Sub-registration district: Gorleston
ED, institution, or vessel: 11
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
William George Hales 27
Harriet Hales 29
Herbert Hales
William Smith 9



Marriages Sep 1873
HALES William Mutford 4a 1128
SMITH Harriet Mutford 4a 1128


I really think this may be a red herring, unless of course he made up Joseph for the marriage cert.

The birth cert you have is almost surely the guy above & as you know his mother is unmarried & at home with her Smith parents in 1871. She then marries William George Hales.

So if your William George Smith is not the one you've found all the info for & his father really IS Joseph, he may be born anywhere. Right?

Ozi.

Do his children's names give you any clue?

Otherwise you may have to wait for the 1911 census!!

Ozi.

Jo,

The familyrelatives website (pay to view!) has the GRO "Marine Deaths" index.

There is any entry registered in 1931 for the following.

Name SMITH William G
Age 58
Vessel Zodiac (hard to read,but I think it says Zodiac)
Page No 121

You should be able to order the death certificate from the GRO armed with that information.

I have saved a copy of the index just in case you would like a copy sent to you by email

Pete

Pete,
Thank you so much. that is definitely the right one. Zodiac is mentioned in the newspaper items. I will send my email address for the index.

Ozibird,
You're right, if his father definitely is Joseph, and I think it must be, then I'm certainly on the wrong trail. He could be from elsewhere but we have always believed he was a Suffolk man and his best man at marriage is most definitely from Corton, Lowestoft.

William's eldest son was Joseph William so I think that that's a strong clue. The second son was Robert Edward - Robert after his mother's father but Edward ??

Time for re-thinking methinks.

Jo