Henry Bowin - Cannot locate a death

[Clairebear1980]

Hello,

My great x 4 GF was Henry Bowin who was born circa 1815 in Hull, Yorkshire.

He married Elizabeth Nicholson in Sunderland on the 11th May 1840.  He is with Elizabeth and children on both the 41 and 51 censuses in Monkwearmouth Shore. 

Henry disappears after the 51 census.  His wife Elizabeth is on the 61 and 71 census in the Sunderland Union Workhouse and she is listed as a widow on both.  She died in 1874.

Henry was a mariner and i've wondered if he died at sea somewhere.

If anyone can offer any help or guidance in locating Henry's death, it is much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance
Claire

[barryd]

I could not find any Henry Bowin with a death registered 1851-1871. Quite a few Henry Bowen. He should have a coastal death registration as that was his occupation. Free BMD. As you say he could have died at sea. Check for Bowen and Bowin as Bowen is more common. Other slight possibilities are that he could have died in Ireland or Scotland, France, Holland or further afield.

[Clairebear1980]

Hi Barryd,

You are right, he could have died further afield away if he was away working.  I was hoping maybe there might have been local newspaper reports if he was missing whilst working. 

His wife Elizabeth does claim to be a widow on the 61 census so either she knew he was dead or assumed he was dead. 

I think I have tried all versions of Bowin/Bowen/Bowens etc

[ChrissieL]

There is a Henry Bowen born 1813 mentioned on Familysearch as a Merchant Navy Seaman from 1845 to 1854
Don't know if that is your Henry

[Clairebear1980]

Hi Chrissie,

I cannot locate this man you reference on Familysearch. 

It could be him, would be interesting to see more info about this Henry.  Would a Mariner and a Merchant Navy Seaman be the same person though?  I thought mariner meant fisherman? 

Regards
Claire

[ChrissieL]

Hi Claire
I think a mariner is another name for a sailor and a merchant seaman is a member of the navy.  I just wondered if this was your Henry Bowin because it gives the date upto 1854.  Could that be when he died. It's a bit of a long shot.  To locate him you can follow the link

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KC39-RRG

[toffeebear]

Don't know a huge amount, but I'm pretty sure that a mariner could be a Merchant Navy seaman. I've got a Master Mariner in my family - he worked in the Merchant Navy, both coastal and foreign, so in ships around the UK coast and to other countries, presumably taking and bringing goods (unfortunately my ancestor doesn't describe which goods in his service record as a Master - but some do).
Usually Merchant Navy records specify date and place of birth too, so that you can hopefully confirm you have the correct person. My ancestor seems to have died at sea too, I haven't managed to pinpoint his death either! :-\
Good luck!

[diddymiller]

have just checked the British newspapers online &  cant see a death.

Diddy