Genealogy Chat

If a seaman was lost at sea where would his death be registered - where he was found or where he lived? Also, if his body wasn't found would there have to be a time before registration could take place. This was 1891 -1901 Thanks, Jennie

If the body was lost, I think it was seven years before you could be declared as 'dead'. When bodies were washed up on the shore, they were buried as unknowns or strangers, but i don't know if or how these deaths were registered. Jay

I don't know definitely. Deaths are registered where they took place. In the event of a death at sea, I imagine that it would be registered at the first port the vessel landed, if there was anyone left to report it. I do know that in law after 7 years a person is presumed to be dead. nell

Thanks Janet and Nell. I thought it might be the same seven years as now. Don't suppose I'll ever know what happened to him. Jennie

But these things are never cut and dried.....In 1861 my rellie was lost at sea....no body recovered....no death cert ever issued. But his wife was able to get his will proved within a month of his death. (Not that he had any money!) Merry

Merry I will have to try to find what ship/boat he was on then I may have a better chance to find out what happened to him. Jennie

Hi Jennifer Some time ago I found my great great grandfather's death at sea through the 1837 site. You might try www*1838online*com/Trace2web/resources/bmdatsea . It does cost to look at it, but you might find yours there. Rgds Maggie

My grandfather was lost at sea in June 1911. He was washed overboard in bad weather on route from Melbourne to Bremen and the entry is in the ships log. When the log was handed in at the end of the voyage a death cert was issued as an entry in the Marine Register in Sept 1911. I have a copy of both the death cert & ships log Shirley

I think that the Family Records Office does hold registrations for deaths at sea. It has seperate registers for births of British nationals overseas (i.e. with the forces etc) and deaths, registers for those listed with British Consulates etc. etc. Ann

Yes I got grandads death ref from the FRC from where I ordered the cert. The cert then gave me the ships name & I then found the ships log at Kew. You really do need the ships name to find anything at Kew and then it may not be there but in Newfoundland where lots of the Merchant navy records are stored after a big HOO HAA, 'they ' were going to discard and it caused a big uproar ,so an alternative storage was found in Newfoundland. As always!!! you have to pay for them to search the records!!

Thanks Maggie, Shirley and Ann for your suggestions. One problem I have is I don't know if he was in the Royal Navy or Merchant Navy. He is described on the 1891 as 'Seaman Second Mate' but that's all I know. Will try the sites you suggest, thanks. Jennie

Don't give up, Jennifer! What boat/ship is the last you have knowledge of, and have you tried the Ships List as you will get info from there. I had been looking since last December for a man who we knew was lost sometime after 1871 but before 1873. Finally found him via a newspaper article but the clue was provided from a lady who did a search in Kew for me. When someone dies at sea their effects and outstanding wages are returned to their next of kin. The record for this is BT154. The index is on BT153. Contact the National Archives - but they told me it could only be done in person. This lady very kindly looked for me, and found the name at 3.30pm - records need to be ordered by 3.15pm! However she had narrowed down the date so off I went to the Aberdeen library 100 miles away ( he was from Aberdeen). The ship he had been on in 1871 was simply a ferry taking him to London. From the newspaper records I found, quite by chance, a news item about a ship being wrecked off Newfoundland. The names of most of the crew were also listed and I have since, with the help of Ann who went back to Kew and found the entry re the effects, found names for them all. So: 1) Don't give up!! 2) Look in newspapers around the time you consider he died - and allow at least another 6 months 3) try looking in the Times - Ann found very valuable info there, 2 letters from a missionary in Newfoundland concerning the wreck. 4) Whatever happened, someone else knew about it and there will be a paper trail somewhere. 5) BT 153 and BT154 at Kew - can't do any harm. 6) If you have any idea of name of ship ask Ships List - they will send you the official number Good Luck, Christine

Jennifer I am nudging up two sites I had posted awhile ago which are good for searching for losses at sea.