1897 Thames drowning - Inquest / Newspaper report COMPLETE

[nedroma]

I have a relation who fell off a barge in 1897 whilst tacking in the Thames and drowned. This took place in the Ratcliff sub district of Stepney.

Are Coroners reports available anywhere?

I would think that possibly there may have been a newspaper report - any ideas where I might track them down.

I dont live in the London Area so access to on-line sources of information would be most helpful.

regards

Alan

[suffolk*sue]

What was the name of the person concerned?

[nedroma]

Sue

Thank you for taking an interest.

His name was Arthur William Tipper - captain of the sailing barge "Gordon". He was born in the Mile End area in 1873.

regards

Alan

[Reyz]

Hello Alan

Wrong year but thought I better pass this information on:

4th October 1895 between Belvedere and Woolwich on the Thames. 

Sailing Barge Gordon is sunk in collision.

Five crew
Three of them drown:

1.  Master James SIMONS

2.  Mate is not named.   

3.  James MURRAY a Lighterman.

The surviving crew were a
Daniel DONAVON and
William TAYLOR,  who gave evidence at the Inquest.

Someone kindly found this information  :

      "  Looks as though she ('Barge Gordon') was salvaged and returned to service after the incident, you
         mention as her registration was finally cancelled 8-3-1912. "

The reason I have this information is the place and times fit the drowning of my Great Grandfather BOGG.
Though of course, might be clutching at straws!
The Mates name is not mentioned in any of the information I have found, as yet!

I have copies of the Inquest which I can e-mail to you, if you PM me your e-mail address.

Maybe there was more than one Sailing Barge Gordon?

Good luck
Reyz

[nedroma]

Reyz

Thank you - it certainly looks as if the Gordon had a very unfortunate history.

I'd be most interested to find out how / where you managed to get a copy of the Inquest.

regards

Alan

[Reyz]

Hi Alan

I got one copy from 'The Times' on-line Site. 
With that information, I contacted, Greenwich Heritage Centre.
Who I recall? found another story of the Inquest in 'The Kentish Independent Newspaper'. (for a small fee).
This newspaper covered the area where the Barge went down.

As your chap drowned in Stepney I would think you need to contact, Tower Hamlets Archives.
They are very helpful.

Good luck 
Reyz

[fulhamfanrob]

Hi Alan

I am also looking into Arthur William Tipper. The story of his death was passed down to me by a relative.

The story goes that while working as a lighterman, he fell overboard and drowned. His brother Walter (my 2nd great grandfather) was so apparently so traumatised by his death that he never worked on the river again, instead taking a job as a railway porter. This led to a huge drop in earnings, and the family fell on quite hard times, with my great grandmother being sent to live with her grandparents so that she could be supported.

Looking at the census returns these details match up. In 1891 Walter is a lighterman and in 1901 he is a Railway Porter. The census returns also show my great grandmother moving in with her grandparents in the 1901 census!

I was wondering if you had managed to find a coroners report for the death of Arthur William? How did you know that he was on the 'Gordon' Barge? Is this on the death certificate? I have not ordered this yet, but am in the process of doing so. Did you try the Tower Hamlets Archives as Reyz suggested?

Would be great to hear from you

Rob

[nedroma]

Hi Rob

Yes the Barge Gordon in mentioned on the death certificate. I have a copy and will gladly send you a copy if you wish - just send me a PM with an email or street address.

AWT was the first husband of my grandmother Kate Hubbard.

I'm away from my records at the moment but from memory Kate and Arthur married in September 1897. Tragically AWT drowned very shortly afterwards but not before Kate had conceived Arthur William Tipper who was born in 1878.

I did manage to get hold of the newspaper article mentioned by Reyz and again I will provide you with a copy if you wish.  I have not tracked down an inquest although the death certificate and newspaper report between them provide a lot of detail about the incident.

Kate was subsequently re-married to Alfred Turner, a ships steward and the young AWT was brought up by Kate and Alfred in Greenwich along with their own family, the youngest of whom was my mother.

I have been in contact on Genes Reunited with another family with connections to AWT; if you are a member it would be worth searching for AWT on that site as well.

best wishes

Alan

[dawnsh]

Hi Rob

Welcome to Rootschat 

You need to make 1 more post before you can use the personal message system to send your email address to Alan.

Dawn