Death of George MURRAY?.....

[nelmit]

Hello all,

I thought the 1871 census would solve this mystery but – no it hasn’t!

I have been searching for George MURRAY’s death, on and off, for 2 years now.

George MURRAY married Mary DAVIDSON 1853 at Peterhead, Aberdeen.

They had 5 children the last born is James Clark MURRAY in 1866. Mary is a widow in 1881 and much to my dismay also in 1871.

I had a look at James’s birth entry and it shows his father as George MURRAY dead but I cannot find any evidence of his death in 1865 or 1866. Then I thought perhaps James was not his child but when I search from 1861 (when John MURRAY was born) to 1865 I still cannot find the death of my George MURRAY.

I think he may be the George Simpson MURRAY born in 1831 according to the IGI (my ggrandfather born 1854 in Peterhead was called George Simpson MURRAY) but until I find his death I cannot be sure.

George was a merchant seaman and now I am wondering if he died at sea.

What would be the procedure for registering his death if that was the case?

Regards,
Annette M

[Alcluith]

Nelmit

The Register of Deaths at Sea are in Mitchell Library Glasgow, but you will need to go there in person and wade through the volumes.

It does not have them all. I got my wife's maternal great great grandfather who was a stoker, but not my own who was a fisherman.

Good Luck

[nelmit]

Nelmit

The Register of Deaths at Sea are in Mitchell Library Glasgow, but you will need to go there in person and wade through the volumes.

It does not have them all. I got my wife's maternal great great grandfather who was a stoker, but not my own who was a fisherman.

Good Luck

Thanks Drew, I have tried 'The Mitchell' but their records don't go that far back.
A search on SP in the Marine Register comes up with nothing in my time frame.

Regards,
Annette M

[Dennis]

Nelmit. Was the wife entitled to receive a widow's pension when her seaman husband died at sea? Are there records for such pensions?


dennis

[DavidWW]

Annette

The Registry of Shipping and Seamen held by GRO in London records lists the birth and death returns from 1837 to 1965. Marine records came into existence under the provisions of the 1836 Act and were continued to be made under subsequent legislation.

If it was clear the subject of the entry was Scottish, then details should have been passed on to GROS from 1855 onwards, but it wasn't necessarily always clear that the subject of such an entry was Scottish or had a Scottish domicile..............

In other words, checking in the GRO records is recommended, plus getting your hands on My Ancestor was a Merchant Seaman, by Christopher T Watts & Michael J Watts, and Records of Merchant Shipping and Seamen by Kelvin Smith, Christopher T Watts & Michael J Watts.

Davie

[nelmit]

Annette

The Registry of Shipping and Seamen held by GRO in London records lists the birth and death returns from 1837 to 1965. Marine records came into existence under the provisions of the 1836 Act and were continued to be made under subsequent legislation.

If it was clear the subject of the entry was Scottish, then details should have been passed on to GROS from 1855 onwards, but it wasn't necessarily always clear that the subject of such an entry was Scottish or had a Scottish domicile..............

In other words, checking in the GRO records is recommended, plus getting your hands on My Ancestor was a Merchant Seaman, by Christopher T Watts & Michael J Watts, and Records of Merchant Shipping and Seamen by Kelvin Smith, Christopher T Watts & Michael J Watts.

Davie

Thanks Davie, you've certainly given me food for thought.

Regards,
Annette M