HI Julia, Deaths at sea are not recorded in the normal GRO index of deaths but in the GRO index of overseas BMD. This index is on the FreeBMD site in amongst the catergories listed there you will find BMDs at Sea listed. If you find your man in that index you can order a copy of the certificate in the usual way from the GRO at their site. A death at sea could only be registered provided that there was someone from the ship who surivived to register the death once the ship reached dry land. Such BMDs overseas were supposed to be registered with either the Registrar of shipping or the British Consul at the first port of call that the vessel called at after the event, where such a registrar or consul was available. Otherwise the event had to be registered with the Registrar of shipping once the vessel arrived back in the UK. In the case of a ship being lost with all hands then there would be no survivors to register the deaths so no record would be found in the Indexes. I see that Nivard has found the newspaper report for you. From that newspaper report you have the date on which John Lake was lost and that the other man was rescued, that man, or perhaps someone else in his name, should have registered the death of John Lake so look on the above website under the appropriate link and Overseas BMDs for the death. My Gt. Grandfather was lost at sea in 1882 3 days after his ship left New Orleans USA, his death was registered by the master of the vessel back in Hartlepool once the ship got back from that voyage, I got that death certificate by searching on the above overseas death index. So you should find John Lake's death certificate in this way. Good luck Jenny DeAngelis <<One of my husband's gt-grandfathers, John LAKE appears on the 1891 census in North Shields as a fisherman That he was a fisherman accords with family history stories, which go on to say he was lost at sea.>>

Hi Jenny In the case you cite in 1882 was there a body recovered I ask as I am reliably informed by an ex registrar that if there was no body there would be no death registration or certificate, not a normal anyway, there may be a court document stating presumed death or as a result of an inquest but even then there is no death certificate as such In the case of John LAKE even though there is evidence he was drowned in 1899 there is no death registered in that year for a John LAKE death at sea (or anywhere else for that matter) which is as I would expect Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 13/03/2013 11:21, Jenny De Angelis wrote: > > HI Julia, > > Deaths at sea are not recorded in the normal GRO index of deaths but in the > GRO index of overseas BMD. This index is on the FreeBMD site in amongst the > catergories listed there you will find BMDs at Sea listed. If you find your > man in that index you can order a copy of the certificate in the usual way > from the GRO at their site. > > A death at sea could only be registered provided that there was someone from > the ship who surivived to register the death once the ship reached dry land. > Such BMDs overseas were supposed to be registered with either the Registrar > of shipping or the British Consul at the first port of call that the vessel > called at after the event, where such a registrar or consul was available. > Otherwise the event had to be registered with the Registrar of shipping once > the vessel arrived back in the UK. In the case of a ship being lost with > all hands then there would be no survivors to register the deaths so no > record would be found in the Indexes. > > I see that Nivard has found the newspaper report for you. From that > newspaper report you have the date on which John Lake was lost and that the > other man was rescued, that man, or perhaps someone else in his name, > should have registered the death of John Lake so look on the above website > under the appropriate link and Overseas BMDs for the death. > > My Gt. Grandfather was lost at sea in 1882 3 days after his ship left New > Orleans USA, his death was registered by the master of the vessel back in > Hartlepool once the ship got back from that voyage, I got that death > certificate by searching on the above overseas death index. So you should > find John Lake's death certificate in this way. > > Good luck > Jenny DeAngelis

Hi Jenny How do you find the Deaths at Sea on FreeBMD? I've looked all over their site but not found them. Gen in NBL England > Deaths at sea are not recorded in the normal GRO index of deaths but in the > GRO index of overseas BMD. This index is on the FreeBMD site in amongst the > catergories listed there you will find BMDs at Sea listed. If you find your > man in that index you can order a copy of the certificate in the usual way > from the GRO at their site.

Hi Gen On the UK site Under Search Records, Select Births, Marriage, Death & Parish Records Then select Deaths 1796 - 2006 Under Region you will find At Sea Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 13/03/2013 16:50, gen listlass wrote: > Hi Jenny > How do you find the Deaths at Sea on FreeBMD? I've looked all over their site but not found them. > Gen in NBL England > > >> Deaths at sea are not recorded in the normal GRO index of deaths but in the >> GRO index of overseas BMD. This index is on the FreeBMD site in amongst the >> catergories listed there you will find BMDs at Sea listed. If you find your >> man in that index you can order a copy of the certificate in the usual way >> from the GRO at their site.

Hi Nivard You say - On the UK site - is this Ancestry you refer to? And then the following instructions Under Search Records, Select Births, Marriage, Death & Parish Records Then select Deaths 1796 - 2006 Under Region you will find At Sea Regards Patrick Williams

Sorry I meant to type find my past no FreeBMD. Look under the usual BMDs tab on the siteand go from there. I am so sorry for the confusion Regards Jenny DeAngelis <<Hi Jenny How do you find the Deaths at Sea on FreeBMD? I've looked all over their site but not found them. Gen in NBL England>> > Deaths at sea are not recorded in the normal GRO index of deaths but in > the > GRO index of overseas BMD. This index is on the FreeBMD site in amongst > the > catergories listed there you will find BMDs at Sea listed. If you find > your > man in that index you can order a copy of the certificate in the usual way > from the GRO at their site.

I too have a lost at sea relative; my great-grandfather David Morrison. Unfortunately there are many of that name in the Newcast-upon-Tyne area. My David was born August 7, 1850, Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Parents James & Jane Morrison; James a shipwright. David moved with his family to Tranmere, Cheshire. Married Ellen Bolton, Tranmere, Cheshire. His father and brother were also tug men in Liverpool and his father worked as a shipwright in Newcastle before moving to Tranmere. Last record of him I have found was on the 1871 census aboard tug 'Merry Andrew', Albert Dock, Liverpool, Lancashire. Wife Ellen was pregnant with their son at th the time her husband was lost at sea and their son was born April 7, 1875 after his father's death and she named him David. That name continues in our family to this day. I tracked down the ship, 'Calcutta', Official No. 50711 with a David Morrison aboard and lost at sea as follows: Crew Agreement, Maritime History Archive, Memorial University of Newfoundland. David Morrison, age 20. Born Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Address 8 Copland Terrace. (I found a Copland Terrace in Newcastle on the Google map). He served as an able-bodied seaman and his previous vessel was the Lady Allan. He joined the Calcutta on July 7, 1874 and was 'supposed drowned at sea' on September 17, 1874. I also have a copy of the Belfast News Letter, Ireland of January 6, 1875 reporting in their article two boats were launched during the disaster of fire on board, one boat survived and the names of the men on the missing boat as being Captain Patching, his son; Wallace, mate; John Smith, seaman; David Morrison, seaman; the cook, steward, sailmaker and five seamen whose names were not remembered by those of the 'Calcutta' who arrived at Greenock on the 'Tennyson'. The report stated the Calcutta sailed out of Newcastle so I don't know for sure if this David Morrison is my great-grandfather as at that time he lived in Tranmere working out of Liverpool but the ship's owners were of Liverpool so maybe the ship went there before sailing out. I have had a response from the Maritime History Archive at the University and they have the crew agrement, which I can have a copy of but I'm not yet convinced this is my great-grandfather given the age being younger by 4 years and address. All I have from my mother is that my great-grandfather died at sea; a cousin said his mother told him it happened off the coast of Wales. I have even looked for a tug going down off the west coast of England or Wales but no luck as yet. Any suggestions? Many thanks Angie (Canada)

"Angie Brunner" <[email protected]> wrote: > I have even looked for a tug going down off the west coast of >England or Wales but no luck as yet. Any suggestions? Angie I'm afraid this too is way off topic for this list. Our remit is with places, people and events in the counties of Northumberland and Co Durham, not with events at sea off the west coast of Great Britain. Your best bet would probably be the MARINERS list. http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/other/Occupations/MARINERS.html Brian -- Brian Pears (Joint List Admin - NORTHUMBRIA Mailing List)

Thanks Brian, for your quick response and the website, which I will explore. Actually by posting, I thought one of the listers may have knowledge of the 'Calcutta' David Morrison who hailed from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which may help in either confirming or eliminating my g-grandfather rather than be able to help with a possible west coast disaster. I have looked into the west coast but will keep on digging as there must surely be a record somewhere - it's just finding it! I have been in touch with tug sites but no luck as yet. Hopefully the website you have kindly given will be fruitful, if only with more search suggestions. Many thanks. Angie

"Angie Brunner" <[email protected]> wrote: Actually by posting, I thought one of the listers may have >knowledge of the 'Calcutta' David Morrison who hailed from >Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which may help in either confirming or >eliminating my g-grandfather rather than be able to help with a >possible west coast disaster. Hi Angie If you had stated this in the original query, I wouldn't have complained. Brian -- Brian Pears (Joint List Admin - NORTHUMBRIA Mailing List)