Scott

[norah]

I am tring to find some information out about my Mums cousin what I know is his name was John Mcmurdo Scott born 1898 at Stockon on tees. The info I have is he went out to play on the beach at Redcar and never returned home this was approx 1908 they think he went down in some sinking sand and my Gr Aunt never give up on him returning home. She went to live there in the end but the story could be wrong and it could be Stockton as they were still there in 1911 and I was told she never locked her door If there is anyone who goes to the archives I would be very grateful if they would do a News paper check to see if it was in the news and if there was a photo . I am unable to travel up to Redcar to look myself Regards Norah

[Evie]

Hi

On the free BMD death index there is a John McMurdo Scott, 1904, Q1, Guisborough district aged 6.

Ref 9d 341

Evie

[norah]

Thank you for that I just need to find out then if his body had been found seeing a death for him had been reg they never told us that when we were growing up but I know how things can get distorted and I would still like to see if there was a news paper account Regards Norah

[norah]

Hi I have now recieved his death cert it says he died on the 9th Aug 1903 by accidental drowing in the sea at Redcar, is death was reg 26th jan 1904. I can't find out if his body was ever found phoned were they had inquest reports it did not start till 1922 so the lady looked at the coroners report nothing. My Last resort is to look for a news paper report for Redcar and Stockton were the family lived. Was told they could be at Northallerton Library if any one goes there and does not mind looking them up for the dates above I will be very grateful Regards Norah

[Sandymc47]

Hi Norah
Sorry to hear about your relative, how sad and so young.
If the death certificate says Accidental death by drowning then I would say its 99% that they have seen the body, otherwise, they would have said misadventure.
It could also be related to the dates of the death and then the issuing of the death certificate which took about 6 months. This is a time span which happens even nowadays and it gives time for any evidence collecting that might be required to prove how the person died. They have to get all their evidence in suspicious circumstances so needed to find out if it was an accident or murder. In poor Johns case they might have wanted to know what he was doing down by the sea by himself at a young age!
I am not a solicitor or anything but I have last year gone through a similar experience with a cousin of mine so learnt alot about the Coroners office and precedures.
regards
Sandymc

[norah]

Thanks for your reply We were always told there was no body discovered that is why my great Aunt kept the door open in case he returned the only thing I can think of his that he was playing in the sea and a wave washed him out and it was to dangerous to go after him we will probably never now the full truth of what happened because there is only one direct cousin alive now and she is in her 80s and only was told the same story as we were Regards Norah