Can anyone find my great-great-grandfather's death? (George Elsbury, 1867-?)

[SamuelF992]

Good evening everyone,

I've not yet found a death record for George Elsbury (b. Bristol, 1867). I'd kind of forgot about it but my aunt came to stay last week and told me that apparently he had taken his life after his wife (Sarah E. Marshall, 1873-1910) passed away. This would make sense as he isn't in the 1911 census and their children are all living with relatives or lodging. However, I still can't find a record of his death in the BMD index. I know suicide was taboo at this time but surely someone would still have had to register his death? There's a record of a George Elsbury born around 1867 dying in Dorchester in 1915, but the place and the timing doesn't seem right. Any help is appreciated.

Best wishes
Samuel

[mckha489]

A connection of mine died in Dorchester prison an alcoholic.

So maybe this newspaper article is pertinent.

I’m on my phone so can’t get you the whole piece but this is the abstract.  He is of Bristol. Was given to drink  And was sent to the Asylum.

“George Elsbury was summoned for cruelty to his children. The case was adjourned from Sovember 29th, in order that the defendant might be medically examined by the prison doctor with a view to ascertaining the state of his
December 7, 1909 - Western Daily


Added.  4 children ranging in age from 2 to 12

[SamuelF992]

Oh wow, that's quite a find. Can I ask where you saw it? Can't see it on Newspapers.com. Fascinating if it's him.

[mckha489]

I looked at it on FindMyPast. But you would be able to see it on the British newspaper archive. You can have three free looks there before you have to pay

[CaroleW]

The 1895 marriage reg shows surname as Ellsbury as does Sarah's death reg

[suzard]

also there is this
UK Lunacy Patients Admission
No7384 George Elsbury admitted 6 Dec (no year given) Asylum Bristol (then Dorset written in pencil) assume he was admitted to Bristol and transferred to Dorset) Death 21 Sept 1915

So the Dorchester death reg looks like it is the correct one

Suz

[SamuelF992]

Thank you, have found it. Really interesting article. Everything seems bang on. It says he had four children whose ages ranged from 2-12. He actually had five, but his eldest was born in 1897 and the youngest 1907, and my aunt also mentioned my great-grandfather had been sent to the workhouse. Seems to likely to be wrong, perhaps the newspaper misreported the number of children?

[SamuelF992]

The 1895 marriage reg shows surname as Ellsbury as does Sarah's death reg

Thank you

[SamuelF992]

also there is this
UK Lunacy Patients Admission
No7384 George Elsbury admitted 6 Dec (no year given) Asylum Bristol (then Dorset written in pencil) assume he was admitted to Bristol and transferred to Dorset) Death 21 Sept 1915

So the Dorchester death reg looks like it is the correct one

Suz

Looking more and more likely, thank you for this.