Death at Pier 44 NYC 1862

[carpenter49]

Manhattan is just across the river from Brooklyn, so it probably is.

Yes.  Brooklyn's Piers faced Manhattan - only separated by the East River.  Manhattan is an Island.

[carpenter49]

Found this:

http://www.john-attfield.com/paf_tree/attfield_current/fam2776.html

[tracey43]

Yes, this is my man. Apparently a death on a pier is nothing out of the ordinary!

[carpenter49]

I can tell you this.  Although Brooklyn is a part of NYC, it was isolated until 1883 when the first bridge was built -- the Brooklyn Bridge, opening up a whole new access.  However, before that they depended on ferries back and forth.  Also, Brooklyn was famous for the Brooklyn Navy Yards, which the U.S. Navy used from at least from 1806 - 1945 (and maybe before) because of its unique position -- close enough yet out of way of Manhattan Island so as not to obstruct, yet have access.  I would imagine there would have been a great need for a carpenter on the wooden piers.

Since it's way over whatever # of  years NYC requires for a death cert. -- and those are not on line -- they have not yet done the earlier ones -- you could order a death certificate.  If you want:

http://www.health.ny.gov/vital_records/death.htm

They want $45 to give you a death cert. 

I put in an e-mail request with someone who goes down to the NYC archives; let's see what he can do first. 

[carpenter49]

I have the death ledger or transcript of it, such as was done back then.   He was working on a ship at Pier 44.  I don't know if he was injured or had appendicitis but he died of peritonitis so something happened to his abdomen, either spontaneously or by bacterial infection.  He would have needed massive does of IV antibiotics, but antibiotics were not invented until 80 years later.   The usual cause of peritonitis is a ruptured appendix or intestine.

Pier 44 was on the Manhattan side of the East River at South and Marginal Streets -- cross street would be Montgomery Street.  South Street still exists.  I don't know about Marginal and Montgomery streets.  But South Street is built up and a tourist attraction - nice area.   He was then buried on Ward's Island, which no longer is used for a cemetery.    The person who got the information did a memorial for him. 

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=110156657

I don't know how to send the document to you.  This is my first day here.