No Cause of Death?

[Rockford]

Hi,

I was at the ScotlandsPeople Centre in Edinburgh yesterday and came across a relation of my wife's who seems to have died on or in the Union Canal at Camelon near Falkirk. His name was James Corbet and he was 17 years old. What was unusual is that the section for cause of death is completely blank and there does not appear to have been an RCE. The writing for the place of death is rather indistinct and I can only make out Union Canal and Camelon.

As usual, I came across this just as they were ringing the bell for us to leave and there was no time to ask anyone. There seems from their free search that there may have been a story in the Scotsman of 17 June 1873 and I'll be looking this up at the Mitchell over the next few weeks, but I wondered if anyone else has seen a record where no cause of death is given?

Best wishes

Brian

[nelmit]

You can search the newspapers from home with a Glasgow library card.

Proquest has the Scotsman and there is also a 19th Century Newspaper list.
http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries ... /home.aspx

Regards,
Annette

[AndrewP]

Hi Brian,

If you check this one on ScotlandsPeople, it shows there is an RCE. It is notified in the left margin of the certificate, and the RCE button is there. The RCE handwriting is worse than that on the original certificate.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Currie]

Hello Brian,

There are just a few lines in the Glasgow Herald on Tuesday, June 17, 1873.

FALKIRK.—Man Drowned.—On Sunday, while a young man named Corbett, a moulder in the employment of the Union Foundry, Camelon, was bathing in the Forth and Clyde Canal near Lock 16, he was accidentally drowned. Deceased was about 20 years of age.

My Scotsman access is being temperamental at the moment. Maybe what’s there is a bit more interesting.

All the best,
Alan

And for anyone who can’t get there otherwise see top of last column on page 3.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=G ... page&hl=en

Or search this forum for the word DEMO.

Alan

[AndrewP]

The Scotsman of 17 June 1873 reports:

• Falkirk.— Singular Fatal Occurence
  
  On Sunday afternoon, three brothers, named Corbet, and residing in Camelon, were bathing in the Union Canal, above Falkirk. The youngest, James, when in the centre of the canal, cried to his brothers for assistance, which was immediately rendered, and he was carried to the bank, when he almost instantly expired. The two brothers declare that deceased was never below the water.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Rockford]

Hi,

Thank you all so much for your help!

Annette - I live near, but not in Glasgow so will need to check out whether they'll let me join. I previously had access via an educational account, but this was stopped when I left the Uni and I've missed it ever since!

Alan and Andrew - thank you for the newspaper reports. I knew the family were living near Lock 16, so had assumed that James had fallen into the canal on his way home. It's very strange that he died as a result of bathing in a Canal in June - although the water was perhaps colder and more shocking than they expected. [Alan - your skills with the searches never cease to impress =D> - I scoured the Herald on Google last night and could not find anything]

Best wishes

Brian

[nelmit]

Hi,

Thank you all so much for your help!

Annette - I live near, but not in Glasgow so will need to check out whether they'll let me join. I previously had access via an educational account, but this was stopped when I left the Uni and I've missed it ever since.

Best wishes

Brian

You can join Glasgow Libraries - you just need proof of name and address.

Regards,
Annette

[Falkyrn]

If resident in Scotland you can also join the National Library of Scotland which also gives access to various online archives. Although you can join online the residency part is required as your membership is confirmed by normal post.