Hello Listers! I posted this inquiry on the South Ronaldsay board (with thanks to Lisa C.) and thought that perhaps someone on this list might be able to help shed some light. Any information that anyone could provide on this would be most appreciated! Looking for anyone who can provide information or assistance in locating information related to an incident which occurred in Longhope Harbor in 1882, aboard the ship Benalder. My ancestor, Thomas MAXWELL purportedly committed suicide on January 10th, 1882 by jumping overboard. However, I have conflicting reports of the incident. The Orcadian reported the it on 14 January as a suicide while the Scotsman reported that Thomas was blown overboard by a gust of westerly wind. I would be interested in any additional information or accounts of this incident including whether or not the body was ever recovered and where Thomas might have been buried. More information at: http://www.geocities.com/ksteel.geo/curious.html With many thanks and a wish for happy holidays to all! Bye for now, Karen www.geocities.com/ksteel.geo "Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia." Charles M. Schulz

Have you seen the Death Certificate? I haven't come across a suicide in Scotland during my research and so I'm unable to comment on the legal requirements there. However under English law a suicide would normally be the subject of a Coronial Inquiry and the Coroner is the informant on the Death Certificate. Also, have you seen the Crew Agreements for the ship? (You don't state whether your ancestor was a member of crew or a passenger). The crew agreement should also throw some light on the circumstances as to how he "signed off " as a crew member. The vast majority of crew agreements are now held by the Maritime History Archive, Memorial University, St John's, Newfoundland. Regards David Armstrong Maylands, Western Australia Researching Stewart, Baikie, Heddle, Malcomson, Stout, Gray, Cromarty, Oman, Anderson, Sutherland ----- Original Message ----- Looking for anyone who can provide information or assistance in locating information related to an incident which occurred in Longhope Harbor in 1882, aboard the ship Benalder. My ancestor, Thomas MAXWELL purportedly committed suicide on January 10th, 1882 by jumping overboard. However, I have conflicting reports of the incident. The Orcadian reported the it on 14 January as a suicide while the Scotsman reported that Thomas was blown overboard by a gust of westerly wind. I would be interested in any additional information or accounts of this incident including whether or not the body was ever recovered and where Thomas might have been buried. More information at: http://www.geocities.com/ksteel.geo/curious.html With many thanks and a wish for happy holidays to all! Bye for now, Karen www.geocities.com/ksteel.geo "Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia." Charles M. Schulz ==== ORKNEY Mailing List ==== >>>>TIP: When when posting your research interests, include the surnames in your subject line - this will improve our list archive and assist future researchers.<<<< ============================== View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find marriage announcements and more. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx