cant find a death!

[winger]

Hi, I am trying to find the death of Francis McDonnell. This is driving me nuts! His wife Martha Currie dies in Glasgow age 67 in 1903 in Calton. She is a widow. I have the family living in Hunter Street, Blackfriers where Francis is listed as a Labourer I think his age is possibly 65 (it is difficult to read). So looking at the information I have assumed that Francis (Frank) died between 1901 (census)and 1903 (her death cert) but I cannot find him - I have just spent quite a few credits looking for possible deaths and nothing matches. I have tried Frank, Francis and variations on the surname - the original Irish name was McDonnell but on the census and death cert it is listed as McDonald and MacDonald. I would really appreciate any suggestions or advice.
thanks in advance.

[paddyscar]

Hi Winger:

Searching Macdonnell/ m*don*l got no hits. Since the census and Martha's death certificate show the name as MacDonald/McDonald, it would indicate that the family adopted the non-Irish spelling.

Entering Surname m*don*ld
First name fran* (which will include frank/francis/frances/frankie, franklin, etc.)
Sex male
Year range 1901-1903
All records
All districts

There are 8 hits, with 5 being in Lanark. When I tried to include his wife's maiden name, there were no hits. It may be that whomever registered his death, either did not know her maiden name, or gave the incorrect information. When looking at the list of these hits, you may not find him in his usual neighbourhood. My grandfather, a road labourer died while at work, which put his death and its record in another part of Glasgow which I would not necessarily have anticipated.

Could another alternative be that he may have died on a visit to Ireland? Trips 'home' were quite common, even for less well-off folk, including my own grandparents.

I also checked the Roman Catholic death registers 1901-1903 without any luck.

Hope this is of some help.

Frances.

[winger]

Thanks for getting back to me - I am always a wee bit unsure the best way to use the wildcard feature - I will try your suggestion and see what happens - the family moved from Ireland in 1899 - and I have spent ages checking the records over there but I still cant find him - I will let you know if the wildcard throws him up!

[winger]

Hi - just tried the 5 that came up - no luck - back to Ireland I think!

[WilmaM]

Another route may be searching for a gravestone.

You know when and Where his wife died so having a look at
http://www.memento-mori.co.uk/ may [just may] help.

Lots of the Glassgow cemeteries are there, could be tedious going through each in turn
but you never know....

[Lindsay]

There is a death for a Francis McDonald in 1904 in Blackfriars age 53. I know that is after Martha's death but it appears he is listed as widower of Martha Currie - writing is not the best so maybe that's wishful thinking on my part - have a look and see what you think.

[Montrose Budie]

...snipped.....

There are 8 hits, with 5 being in Lanark. When I tried to include his wife's maiden name, there were no hits.

.......snipped......

Frances.

The death index for males doesn't include the maiden name of the wife. It's the female death index that also includes the maiden surname of a married female.

mb

[Montrose Budie]

There is a death for a Francis McDonald in 1904 in Blackfriars age 53. I know that is after Martha's death but it appears he is listed as widower of Martha Currie - writing is not the best so maybe that's wishful thinking on my part - have a look and see what you think.

The 1904 wife's surname is definitely " Currie ", but the given name looks like " Martra ".

I'd be near certain that this is the correct record, despite that and Martha's 1903 death record showing her as a widow.

In the first place both the 1903 and 1904 records show Francis' occupation as 'Night Watchman'; and are both reported by
" James McDonald, Son ".

Add in the 1901 census record showing Francis, 46, Martha, 65, - note that age difference, - with kids James, 26, and Martha, 24, and you can see why I'm near certain.

All 4 were born in Ireland, which probably explains the lack of a matching entry in 1891 or earlier.

Son James probably had no birth certificates to consult when he reported the deaths. It's not an uncommon error for one or both of the parents of the deceased to be shown wrongly as deceased (or alive when actually deceased), but it's extremely uncommon for the spouse to be shown wrongly as deceased, - perhaps James misunderstood the question that the registrar asked.

mb

[winger]

Thank you all so much for looking at this for me =D> - I cannot tell you how long I have spent looking for the death of Francis, I am amazed that he died after his "widow" and I thought I had seen a few strange things in the records - but this has to be a 1st!
I think it is deff him - all of the information fits - and I know from checking the Irish and English records there are no other possibilities that match.
So thank you again for a really brilliant piece of genealogy - one more wall down!!!

[winger]

Hi - just thought I might ask MB if you looked at the 1901 Census for Francis - where it says nightwatchman - beside it the entry seems to say "Navy" - I am not sure - it would be perfect if it does as Frank is listed on his children's marriage cert as Yacht master and Master Mariner - so a Navy record would confirm this - I am just not sure if it says Navy or I am "trying" to see it - I would appreciate your opinion on the writing.

thanks again for all your help