Drowned in the Clyde in 1868

[inveryes]

Any additional info available on her death certificate or RCE?

Hi sancti

Not really.

Date and time found " Floating in the River Clyde ( north side / near to Stobcross Quay) usual residence 12 Thistle Street, Hutchesontown, Glasgow.

Cause of death: Drowning - under water a few hours.

She had six kids at the time, oldest 22 youngest 1, and her husband had died sometime between 1861 ( appeared on the census) and 1868 ( she's described as a widow on her death certificate). Did she fall or jump or was she pushed? No way of knowing I suppose.

( Without wanting to go off topic, I can't find any trace of her husband's death anywhere)

[inveryes]

Hi again,

Poor woman.  I think you would have to look at her home life to imagine why she might
have jumped in the river. Only 40 she might have lost some of her children, she might
have become a widow and not been able to cope.  Maybe in debt. 
I doubt if everyone could swim in 1868 so maybe her clothese were to keep her warm.
Living through the 1950's I can tell you it was really cold even in Yorkshire as we didnt
have fitted carpets, central heating or hot water or a bath even.  So unless you ate well
it was very cold. 
I did read that in the length of time that has taken place it might be the newspaper article
that contains the only information about the event that you could find nowadays.
Also I think Scottish Law is different to the English and Welsh law so there might be
some difference because of that.
Hope you find something but might be worth checking her home life to say why.

regards Sandymc

Home life would have been pretty grim I imagine, Sandy. She was actually 50 at the time, not 40 as the paper speculated. According to George Parsonage of the Humane Society, there is unlikely to hav ebeen any sort of inquiry as family were allowed to just take the bodies home.

[sancti]

Mitchell Library might have info on Poor Relief claims by the family and may tell you what happened to her husband

[kevinf2349]

Welcome.

It is a sad story indeed. I would have to say that my initial thoughts would be that if foul play was suspected then I would have expected some mention of it somewhere (newspaper, coroners report etc). Given that she had such young children I would expect that to mean the chances of deliberately taking her own life would be less likely than the theory of her accidently falling into the river.

Having at least two suicide victims in my family I can understand the desire to want to know what went on, but sometimes these things are best left unknown. What was going on? what they were thinking? these are such natural questions, but they are also ones that you may never get answered. Even the people alive in her life at the time may not have known the real story.

I pray that her soul is at peace.

Kevin

[sancti]

Have you viewed the youngest child's birth record to see if the father registered it?

[sancti]

What was her husband's name and occupation?

[inveryes]

Her father, John Wright, was alive when she was 1 year old in the 1861 census. He has died sometime ( and somewhere) between the 1861 census and the 1868 drowning. The family rarely ventured far from home, but I'm beginning to think he died outside of Scotland.

[Gali]

Husband was John Wright, born c. 1812, Greenock, occupation Cooper
1841 census, family at Adams Court Lane
1851 census, family at 57 Mitchell St
1861 census, family at 12 Thistle St

[inveryes]

What was her husband's name and occupation?

He was John Wright, Cooper (journeyman) and their address in the 1861 census was 12 Thistle Street, Hutchesontown. Mary Wright was still at this address when she drowned. That would suggest that they hadn't moved, but who knows?

We traced John back to being born in 1812 in Greenock but then, the young orphaned Ann Jane Wright apparently was living with an uncle Duncan in the 1871 census. Although we presume Duncan was John's brother, Duncan appears to have a different set of parents?