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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Moray (Elginshire) => Topic started by: morageckford on Tuesday 29 October 24 16:46 GMT (UK)
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In Edinkillie cemetery there is a grave of KOPURI, 'TOM' native of the island of ROTUMAR in the South Pacific Ocean. Faithful and attached servant of C. F. Wood Esqu. Tom died at Relugas House aged 22 in 1877 - he was born about 1855, so not a slave. His death certificate says he was a valet. Does anybody know more about him?
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Does his death cert have any parental details
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His parents are described on the record of his death as unknown.
I see Rotuma is the modern spelling of ‘Rotumah’ shown on the record as his birthplace.
Will research further and share any findings. Regards Stuart
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https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=572672.0
Link to previous posts mentioning the inscription on Tom’s grave at Edinkillie and CF Wood.
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https://archive.org/stream/ayachtingcruise00woodgoog/ayachtingcruise00woodgoog_djvu.txt
Link to digitised version of CF Wood’s book about his sailing expeditions to the South Seas. Haven’t had a chance to read but there may be some clues about how Tom became associated with him and ended up in faraway Relugas.
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Sorry, should have acknowledged that MonicaL originally tracked this book down, I’m but following (stumbling probably better word) in her footsteps!
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I wonder why LIBINDX lists the name on the stone as Myra rather than Tom?
libindx.moray.gov.uk/subjects/subject_people_report_view.asp?REF_ID=NM090439 (Needs copy and paste rather than just a click)
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I wonder why LIBINDX lists the name on the stone as Myra rather than Tom?
libindx.moray.gov.uk/subjects/subject_people_report_view.asp?REF_ID=NM090439 (Needs copy and paste rather than just a click)
Curious. The Death Certificate has just Kopuri.
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Stopped at Edinkillie this morning en route to Grantown and took photo of the headstone, which confirms Tom Kopuri.
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Well done, Calleva.
Very odd that LIBINDX has Myra. Have to correct that!
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Thank you Forfarian, and I agree LIBINX needs correcting!
Further thoughts -
Just spotted that the word Tom is in inverted commas; “Tom”. As the Death Certificate only has Kopuri presumably Tom was a nickname.
This made me wonder if nicknames are generally left out of records in Statutory Registers.
Turning to LIBINDX, the date of death also needs amending but it is not straightforward.
The headstone gives the date of death as 3rd September 1877 while LIBINDX has 2nd September 1877. However the Death Certificate states 4th September 1877 at 10 minutes past midnight!
Since the LIBINDX cemetery records presumably reflect the details shown on monumental inscriptions rather than the date of death in the Death Certificate I wonder if the amendment in this case should be to 3rd September.
All thoughts welcome!
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Realised the discussions have gone a little way past morageckford’s original question.
From a skim read of CF’s Wood’s account of his journeys in the South Pacific, he visited the island of Rotuma(h) and hired local men as crew on his boat. I think we are on safe ground to suggest Tom from the island was recruited at that time and taken back as a servant, sadly passing away at a young age in Scotland.
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I took a photo too but don't knw how to post it here. (Don't ask!) I wondered if his death certificate gives his cause of death?
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Calleva, thankyou for the extra information. I suppose C.F. Wood and his valet were visiting Relugas.
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I think that they were visiting Relugas a fair assumption, maybe for the Salmon fishing on the Findhorn. The season is from mid February to end September which ties in with the date of Tom’s death in early September. Another reason to visit may have been grouse shooting on Dava, again the dates of the season tie in.
I’ve attached an extract from the Death Certificate with cause of death shown as Hemoptysis (or is it Haemoptysis?) and congestion of lungs. Details readily found on the internet, seems a horrible way to die, poor chap.
A more pleasant thought- there is a website from and about the island of Rotuma with email addresses, maybe make contact to see if there are any descendants?
https://www.rotuma.net/
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Thankyou for looking up 'Tom's' cause of death. Poor young man - the cold of Scotland wouldn't have helped! You've all answered my questions - who was he, how did he come to be in Relugas and how did he die. I'm constantly surprised at what I find in cemeteries when I'm photographing war graves.
I came across a man who died in the Tay Bridge disaster which set me off reading about it all.