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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Princess Poppy on Wednesday 31 July 19 14:26 BST (UK)
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Hope someone can help.
I had a relative called Charles Nurse who drowned on 1 May 1878 from a ship called "Union". His body washed up on Foulness Beach and he was buried on 5th June 1878 at St Mary's Church, Foulness, Essex. It said on his burial record: "Picked up on the sands, drowned". My relative lived at Blakeney, Norfolk, England and was born at Titchwell, Norfolk, England. On his paperwork, it says he drowned "off The Mouse". Can anyone tell me whereabouts The Mouse was/is?
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Newspaper reports say the Union was sunk in a collision near the Mouse Light Vessel. From old maps on the National Library of Scotland website, this was a few miles out to sea off Foulness.
Drosybont
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A Dictionary of Sea Terms (1919): The Mouse - An important bank of sand in the estuary of the Thames, on the margin of which is placed the Mouse lightship, which has a green light revolving every twenty seconds, and gong.
Newspapers report that the inquest on Charles Nurse opened in June 1878 and was adjourned for two weeks to find out whether there had been or was going to be an inquiry into the collision and so that relatives could attend. It was completed in July 1878 when it was reported that there had been an inquiry and it was concluded that he had been drowned. In a quick search didn't spot a report of the inquiry.
Drosybont
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Many thanks, Drosybont for your speedy and informative reply. Did you find the reference to an inquest in an online newspaper?
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From old maps on the National Library of Scotland website, this was a few miles out to sea off Foulness.
Drosybont
See https://maps.nls.uk/view/101168630#zoom=3&lat=4388&lon=5647&layers=BT
Stan
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Thanks for this stanmapstone. A great map and shows the Mouse Light Ship - thanks again. You have been very helpful :)
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Yes, there are short articles about the collision (1 to 4 May) and the inquest (12 to 15 June and 5 and 6 July) in newspapers online.
Drosybont
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Hi Drosybont,
Yes, I've downloaded loads of newspaper articles and transcribed all the information into my family tree program. Thanks for your assistance. To be honest I never knew how newsworthy the story was. I've had the death certificate for ages, but never knew the full story behind the tragedy.