Death Certificate

[anne jane]

I am looking for a death certificate for Robert Forbes McColl who died in Newport Virginia in 1909  I have found his grave on Find a grave but can't find anymore info on him in the USA  I would really appreciate any help I could get in finding out what happened to him  I have already found info on him on ancestry when he lived in Scotland

Many thanks for your help

Janie

[shellyesq]

Per the Virginia Department of Health, "there was no law for the registration of births and deaths between 1896 and June 14, 1912."  http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/genealogy/

So, it sounds like there may not be a death certificate.  Maybe an obituary or will would give some more information?  Do you have a time frame when he would have come to the US?

[RJ137]

According to the inscription on his memorial at Find A Grave he was:
 "3rd Engineer S. S. Strathfillan".

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86764689

======================

Looking up the history of the ship. It was built in 1906 and is described as a cargo ship.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01os6/

=======================

That would put the time frame between May 1906 & June 1909. Being the ship wasn't a passenger ship, it sounds like Robert Forbes McColl was a sailor who either died at port or at sea and buried at the next port.

I doubt there would be any kind of obit/death notice for him or him appearing on a ships manifest arriving, since this wasn't a passenger ship.

[dbree]

Hi,

Find A Grave says he  d. June 8, 1909 and is buried in Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

A possible in the Daily Press, Newport News newspaper of June 13, 1909. Most of the information
seems to fit, except his first name.

"Young James McColl was drowned off ship.....assistant engineer of the steamship Strathfilan missing since Monday night......burial at Greenlawn....."

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01os5/

DB

[shellyesq]

Good find.  The Newport News library has an obituary index, and that James is the only McColl from 1909.  http://engagedpatrons.org/database/NNObits/index.cfm

[anne jane]

Thank you very much for all your help  I know that he did not live in the USA but worked on ships  He left a widow and a child at home in Scotland  Hopefully I will find out what happened to him

Janiex

[Tickettyboo]

According to the British Armed Forces and overseas deaths and burials (a combined index for the UK),

his death was reported to The Registrar General for Scotland.
He was 29, a 3rd engineer, Nationality or Birth Place British, Greenock, last place of abode Mrs Vokes, 9 Dellingburn St., Greenock, Scotland, Cause of Death Drowning, assumed suicide, date of death 05 June 1909, place of death Newport News, USA. Ship was Strathfillan (a steam ship), official no.121,341, registered in Glasgow.

As the death was reported to Scotland, their local marine return which will include him is available on Scotlands People - search with his name and year of death 1909.
 I'd doubt if they would have issued an official death cert as he didn't die in Scotland. Just two entries on SP showing, both listed as Marine Returns

Boo

[anne jane]

Thank you very much for this info you are a star  I never thought of looking for him on Scotlandspeople off to find him so once again thank you

Janiex

[barryd]

Brilliant genealogy. You all deserve a gong.