drownings in the thames

[Darian Zam]

Gee I don't know, MAYBE THERE WERE WITNESSES TO THE DROWNING.

"but even if they witnessed each other's deaths then they were both dead so they couldn't be witnesses to it..."

Sometimes I just can't.

[Darian Zam]

See this makes more sense to me than quibbling how on earth two people could drown in an accident and be noticed by anyone. I can envisage how a family story could morph. I've seen it happen many a time in my own family history and others. It may not be accurate, and it may take some time to work out exactly what transpired, but there is usually some basis of truth in it. People don't just invent fanciful stories out of boredom.

The Great Storm In November, 1893:

https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/15/171/the-great-storm-in-november-1893?searchterm=Yacht+Gan&page=1000


Tony

[jaywit]

The problem back in the 1890s is that people didn't walk round with a pocket full of ID documents like they do today. No Drivers Licence, no bank card easily no passport, people travelled the world without passports.

OK A local found drowned could be identified, someone would come forward  with a description and they would identify the body.

Two people from thousands of miles away, no ID they would not be identified and no one to notify family.

I think if it had happened and family had been informed there would be something in local NZ newspapers.

I think someone somewhere drowned in N Z and a story became garbled. Could be something like ' that river is as big as the River Thames in London'

What happened to Polly?  My guess she left for some reason and reinvented herself somewhere else.

Maybe DNA results could throw up an unknown line who were descended from her.

[rosie99]

Which now brings me to this speculation. If Polly was never mentioned in wills and probates, and her mother died 1895 and her father 1899, it means she was deceased by then. So it is likely the accident happened between 1893 and 1894. Traveling overseas (if it wasn't a domestic trip) was often reserved for newly-wed couples.

When were these wills dated

[hepburn]

Were her parents In NZ or did the come back to England?

[Darian Zam]

The best and most efficient way forward, was from the beginning and still is, news articles of the time reporting on the matter.
You're probably trying to be helpful (?) but you basically discounted information as an implausible story on no basis of evidence except wild theorizing.
Then you double down on this making it into an even more fanciful scenario also based on nothing but speculation of how it may have played out which is even more likely to have not happened. She ran away and carried her life on under a new identity? Please just stop.
This is not actually helpful. This is not entries for a fan fiction competition. I am looking for facts based on some scant information which I believe like most family stories may well not be entirely accurate but is actually likely based in truth.

The problem back in the 1890s is that people didn't walk round with a pocket full of ID documents like they do today. No Drivers Licence, no bank card easily no passport, people travelled the world without passports.

OK A local found drowned could be identified, someone would come forward  with a description and they would identify the body.

Two people from thousands of miles away, no ID they would not be identified and no one to notify family.

I think if it had happened and family had been informed there would be something in local NZ newspapers.

I think someone somewhere drowned in N Z and a story became garbled. Could be something like ' that river is as big as the River Thames in London'

What happened to Polly?  My guess she left for some reason and reinvented herself somewhere else.

Maybe DNA results could throw up an unknown line who were descended from her.

[KGarrad]

But, you have no proof of marriage?
You have no proof of travel?
You have no proof of death?

Also, you don't answer questions put to you.

Were her parents In NZ or did the come back to England?

When were these wills dated

Apparently there is a database specifically of deaths in the Thames but it is not available online and one must visit in person to look at it.

Where is it held 

[sparrett]

Just to confirm something here if you will.

In your previous thread which you have linked here as https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=888912.0

In Reply #13  there is a question from Lucy2 asking about the death certificates (or printouts) of "Polly's" parents, specifically the section issue living and dead.


Reading your response to that query (reply #19) does not make clear whether or not you hold them.

Sue

[ptdrifter]

https://digupyourancestors.com/2020/04/04/a-person-unknown-drowned-in-the-thames/

This makes interesting reading. I found it whilst looking for a couple of my ancestors who committed "suicide" in the Thames.