COMPLETED - Death at Sea - SS Redbrook 1890

[toedwar]

I'm looking for information on the death of Henry Edwards in 1890 on the SS Redbrook as listed in the "Index of Deaths at Sea" on page 150.   I understand the SS Redbrook sank on 22 Aug 1890 in the English Channel (or possibly Bay of Biscay) but I don't know if the above death occurred as a result of the sinking or if he died on an earlier sailing.

How does one obtain a death certificate for a death at sea?

I would also like to find out if the SS Redbrook was sailing from South Africa to Europe at the time.

Any help is much appreciated.    Tom

[stanmapstone]

The sinking was as a result of a collision, and was off the port of St. Nazaire on the 22nd August 1890. There is no report of any deaths, although the captain was badly burnt. The Times, Monday, Aug 25, 1890
See http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/bmdatseaorabroad.htm
Stan

[jorose]

Deaths at sea, like consular bmds, etc, can be ordered directly from the GRO (since you have an index reference):
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

From newspaper records, three men from the Redbrook were lost, they are listed as:
Charles Hall, second engineer, Edinburgh
William Hartman, fireman, Prince Leopold street, Splotlands,
Henry Edwards, able seaman, Solva, Pembrokeshire

[Ringoroses]

Here are a few bits about it.

According to the London Standard, March 25 1891,  the board of Trade awarded a silver medal to the pilots of the St Nazire who rescued a portion of the crew of the Redbrook which sank after a collision with the French mail steamer Amerique in St Nazire roads, on 22 Aug 1890.

Seems the ship, owned by Messrs John Cory and Sons, Cardiff, was sailing from Newport to Nazire. Captain William's (who was badly burned after the boiler burst after the collision as they entered port) survived and wired the owners to tell them.
 It had already had a near miss a few years earlier (1886), but had been salvaged.

A letter from one of the survivers says those who died were the second engineer, the botswain and a fireman. Hartman and Hall were the fireman and the second engineer, so presumably, the boatswain was Henry Edwards.  He doesn't say what happened to Henry, but he says the other two 'went down to try to save their clothes, and got drowned". Tragic.
 Hope that adds to what you have,
Ann

Edit: Have you spotted this already?
http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?133204 

[seaweed]

http://www.archive.org/stream/lloydsregisters28unkngoog#page/n562/mode/2up


http://www.archive.org/stream/lloydsregisters28unkngoog#page/n46/mode/2up

[Ringoroses]

How does one obtain a death certificate for a death at sea?

There is a listing for Henry Edwards, France, 1890 in the Marine Death registers. You an access them in various places, including the non conformist subscription site BMD registers.  http://www.bmdregisters.co.uk   (You can search for free, but you have to purchase credits to view).

Regards
Ann

[toedwar]

Thank you everyone for your help and information!!!!   I'm always amazed at the depth of information available through all the wonderful people on this site who take the time to help and share their knowledge, thanks again.

Tom

[byromfamily]

Tom,

I'd be interested to understand your connection with Henry Edwards.  He is my great grandfather.  I am trying to trace his family, I believe his father to be William Philip Edwards although I am not 100% on this.

Jason

[toedwar]

Hi Jason, 
I don't actually have a connection to the Henry Edwards that died on the SS Redbrook.   I was searching for the death of my great grand-uncle, Henry Victor Edwards, who died at about the same time as your great grandfather and the death of "your" Henry was one of the possible deaths that I was investigating as a possible connection.   I knew that "my" Henry had been in South Africa in about 1890 but had died shortly thereafter and I had been unable to find any death record for him.   I have since found his death record in Jamaica where he died in 1893.
I'm sorry, but I have no further information on "your" Henry beyond what I found out through following the leads posted in this forum.   I will keep your search in mind and let you know if I come across anything that might help you.    Tom