Hi Heather, I'm reasonably sure that if no bodies were recovered, legally people were not accepted as dead for 7 years, no matter who 'saw' them disappear. I may be wrong of course, but have recorded people remarrying after 7 years of spouse not being sighted for that period of time. cheers Sally -------------------------------------------------- From: "Heather Minol" <minol@ozemail.com.au> Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2014 2:10 AM To: "narnty" <sallynolan531@hotmail.com>; <aus-tasmania@rootsweb.com> Subject: Re: [AUS-Tas] Looking for record of death in Macquarie Harbour 1878 > Hi Sally, > > Thanks for your reply. I don't believe the bodies were ever recovered. > There was one survivor who witnesses the deaths though. This was Arthur > Lloyd. The names of all who drowned were known, so I don't see why the > deaths would not have been recorded...maybe I'm looking in the wrong > places!

Hi Sally. Can only comment on the law in Victoria. Basically No Body = No Inquest = no death certificate. A death cert. Needs to be issued by a medical practitioner who can give a cause of death. If he will not issue same an inquest MUST be held. If there is no body there cannot be a death certificate. An inquest is an inquiry over the body of the deceased. No body .... no inquest. Consequently the newspaper reports are the only "evidence" you can have. The seven year law stated in your previous answer still applies. Relly drowned in Lake Colac. Body not found.... Wife was in limbo for seven years until he could be declared dead. Not easy with a young family. Hope this helps Regards Anne -----Original Message----- From: narnty -----Original Message----- From: narnty [mailto:sallynolan531@hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, 14 August 2014 6:56 AM To: Heather Minol; aus-tasmania@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [AUS-Tas] Looking for record of death in Macquarie Harbour 1878 Hi Heather, I'm reasonably sure that if no bodies were recovered, legally people were not accepted as dead for 7 years, no matter who 'saw' them disappear. I may be wrong of course, but have recorded people remarrying after 7 years of spouse not being sighted for that period of time. cheers Sally -------------------------------------------------- From: "Heather Minol" <minol@ozemail.com.au> Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2014 2:10 AM To: "narnty" <sallynolan531@hotmail.com>; <aus-tasmania@rootsweb.com> Subject: Re: [AUS-Tas] Looking for record of death in Macquarie Harbour 1878 > Hi Sally, > > Thanks for your reply. I don't believe the bodies were ever recovered. > There was one survivor who witnesses the deaths though. This was Arthur > Lloyd. The names of all who drowned were known, so I don't see why the > deaths would not have been recorded...maybe I'm looking in the wrong > places!