Can't Find A Death

[Del 80]

Just trying to keep this topic alive, still no news on the elusive Samuel Clarke, if anyone has any suggestions I would be grateful, Regards Del.

[SarahND]

Hi Del,
No info on your Samuel, sorry, but I see that Hugh Joseph has 15 pages of Army pension materials online. Have you seen it? Not much information about his father, unfortunately, except to say that he is "British."
All the best,
Sarah

[Del 80]

Hi Sarah,That is very interesting, I have not seen that, 15 pages, where would I find that ? I did get Hugh Joseph's enlistment records, but must have missed his pension records. Regards Del.

[SarahND]

Hi Del,
I found it on Ancestry.com in the database: British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920

All the best,
Sarah

[Orlaith17]

I seem to have "lost" someone from records too. Ann Scanlan and James McTaggart were married in Glasgow in February 1887. Ann died in Dundee in 1906 and was described as "widow of James McTaggart" on her death certificate. Her six children were born from November 1887 - May 1897. I have searched for a death of James McTaggart from 1897 - 1906 but cannot find the right one. I tried searching prior to 1897 in the off chance that some of the later children may have been registered with the McTaggart surname but may have been conceived after James' death. But I still can't get a death for him. Ann's death was registered by her sister in law (my great grandmother) a devout Irish Catholic. Is there any possibility that Ann was simply estranged from her husband and her death informant gave the information she was a widow to save embarassment for the family? Or would proof of her husband's death have been needed in order to state that she was a widow on her death certificate? Any information or ideas gratefully appreciated.

[nelmit]

I seem to have "lost" someone from records too. Ann Scanlan and James McTaggart were married in Glasgow in February 1887. Ann died in Dundee in 1906 and was described as "widow of James McTaggart" on her death certificate. Her six children were born from November 1887 - May 1897. I have searched for a death of James McTaggart from 1897 - 1906 but cannot find the right one. I tried searching prior to 1897 in the off chance that some of the later children may have been registered with the McTaggart surname but may have been conceived after James' death. But I still can't get a death for him. Ann's death was registered by her sister in law (my great grandmother) a devout Irish Catholic. Is there any possibility that Ann was simply estranged from her husband and her death informant gave the information she was a widow to save embarassment for the family? Or would proof of her husband's death have been needed in order to state that she was a widow on her death certificate? Any information or ideas gratefully appreciated.

I can find the family easily enough in 1891 but have you found them in 1901? I can't find them in Scotland or Ireland.

What was the address where Ann died?

Regards,
Annette

[Orlaith17]

Thanks for your help. By 1901, the family seemed to have been split up. The oldest son Owen was stayng with my great grandmother, his aunt,Catherine Scanlan in Dundee (1901 census) His four young sisters were staying in Banffshire.....no idea why. Ann McTaggart died in Dundee Royal infirmary on 12th September 1906. The fact the family was split up by 1901 makes me wonder what happened between Ann and her husband James mcTaggart.

[Del 80]

Hi Orlaith, I don't know what the legal implications would be, in the case of my Samuel Clarke, he was sentenced to 6 months in jail for a serious assault on his wife in 1899, and was never heard of again, perhaps the family disowned him, and he seems to have just "vanished" when his wife re-married in 1912 he was given as deceased, but that could have been just assumed, or as per my other post on the subject, he could have been declared legally dead, the same could have happened in your case, fascinating stuff isn't it ? Regards Del.

[nelmit]

Thanks for your help. By 1901, the family seemed to have been split up. The oldest son Owen was stayng with my great grandmother, his aunt,Catherine Scanlan in Dundee (1901 census) His four young sisters were staying in Banffshire.....no idea why. Ann McTaggart died in Dundee Royal infirmary on 12th September 1906. The fact the family was split up by 1901 makes me wonder what happened between Ann and her husband James mcTaggart.

Looks like the girls were taken away from their mother for whatever reason. I am fairly sure there will be a poorhouse application at The Mitchell and I'll have a look when I next go there although it may be some time.

Rathven have poorhouse minutes which may give info on when the girls arrived. http://www.abdnet.co.uk/genuki/BAN/Rath ... ml#PoorLaw

There are a few James McTaggart deaths indexed at SP if you widen his age range but hopefully a poorhouse application will reveal what happened to him.

Regards,
Annette

[Orlaith17]

Thank you so much for the invaluable information. It's awful when you get backed up against a brick wall, and SO helpful to have some brains to pick and start to work out where to look next.