RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: lollthetroll on Monday 02 May 11 20:29 BST (UK)
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My Great grandfather Rev.J M Williams left his family and went to the USA in 1894. I know he originally went to Philadelphia intending to travel to New York, but then he disappears from sight. Unfortunately his only son, my grandad is dead now but never spoke of him. Looking through some research my Aunt did 30 years ago I have a passing reference to him dying in 1912 and a sentence about a consular report from Boston. I also found his name next to an address for Seton Ann Hall, St Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. I believe this was a hospital run for the poor so I think the chance of his leaving a will is non-existent.
If a British subject dies abroad, how is his death notified to the UK and where would I find such records? I've trawled through BMD for 1912 with no success.
My aunt was also convinced he died just before the outbreak of WW2 but her recollections are a bit muddled and don't tie in with the notes she wrote years ago.
Any help or advice would be most gratefully received.
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hi
with deaths abroad they come under consular records , i,ve found this one for a james j williams registered in savannah usa 1911-1915 vol 13 p 1328 b age33 consular deaths 1894-1965 .
could this be your rev williams ? .
regards
trevor
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Many thanks for looking, Trevor, but my Gt grandad in Joseph Monaghan Williams, so I'm afraid it's not him. How would I access Consular records?
Thanks
Pam
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Do you know for certain that he was still a British subject when he died (ie he was not a naturalized US citizen)?
If he was still a British subject his death may be recorded in Consular records which can be found at findmypast (pay site) or familyrelatives.com (consular and other overseas records are free but you need to register). If he was in Maryland have you searched the Maryland State Archives' records (http://www.mdvitalrec.net/cfm/dsp_search.cfm)?
Have you looked for him in the US 1900 and 1910 Censuses?
If you would like others to assist looking for him can you provide his place and date of birth and last known address in the UK?
Nigel
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For a British subject abroad, IF a relative informed the British Consul about a birth, marriage or death the event is recorded in the consular register and then appears in the GRO Overseas index - and you can send off for a certificate in the normal way
The problem is that there was no requirement for the British Consul to be notified - and so it is hit and miss whether it was done or not. In some countries, presumably there would be whatever local records were required.
I have several members of my & my husbands family who were born and/or died out in China in the late 1890's/early 1900s. Some events were notified & recorded so we have certificates, other events were not. In my great-grandfathers case, after his death there was an inquest & a newspaper article in Shanghai but there is no record in the Consulate registers so we have no death certificate for him