Genealogy Chat

I have a John Rooney, b.1896 in Motherwell, Lanarkshire who was killed by a gunshot wound at Braehead Farm, Bargeddie, Old Monkland on 10/01/1912. His death certificate has a note at the side relating to a coroner's report and volume number but I have no idea how to go about finding it! Any suggestions?

Lanarkshire is Scotland, so I don't know but I think that they have a procurator who acts as coroner. In England, coroner's reports may be destroyed, or kept by the relevant police force, or the records office. BUT there is usually a local newspaper report of the inquest, and possibly the death too. I suggest you contact the relevant library service. nell

I don't know what happens in Scotland, but in England, very few coroner's reports are kept. However there is usually mention of an inquest of this sort in the local newspapers at the time, so you could maybe check with the local library to see if they have filmed copies of local newspapers for that time. Kath. x

Hi Frances It's not easy getting hold of actual coroner's reports - but one thing I have had a lot of success with is newspaper reports. If you are able to get to the local family history library for that area where he died you may be able to search their archive newspapers on fiche (if you can't get there sometimes they will do the search for you for a fee). I usually find that there will be a small article in the local newspaper about a week or so after the incident happened. I normally check the coroners inquest date then start searching the newspapers for dates after that. Someone else might be able to give you advice on actual coroner's reports for that area.

I had thought there might be something in a newspaper - and I actually still live in Lanarkshire - but I have no idea where to go for old newspapers. Do all local libraries have them, or maybe the city or national libraries? I wish they were online but sadly not!

Contact the largest library in Lanarkshire and ASK! As I say, I don't know about Scotland, but in England microfilmed old papers are at county records offices, some larger libraries and/or local history centres. nell

hi, i spent ages trying to find how to get a coroners report dated 1905. I took a guess that i would have been put in a local paper. So i did some searches, found the names of the local papers in that area at that time. In london the is an archive which holds all copies of the papers, so i requested which ones i wanted to see, the first couple were on microfiche so that was easy enough, but the last few were originals, i had to wear gloves to turn the pages, and i found the report that i was looking for, i couldn't believe it, i had to copy it out by hand as the staff are unable to take copies from the originals, long winded story i know but might give you some ideas, i will have a look for the newspaper site and let you know good luck yvette

this link may give you an idea of whats available, it is supposed to have copies of everything, http://www.bl.uk/services/reading/newsrr.html Its the british library it also has info on newspapers yvette

Thanks to you all for your replies - I trawled the internet and eventually found that the Scotsman newspaper has online archives dating back to the 1800s (for a fee of course!). So I did find a small article about the accident - - again, thanks everyone!