Help - Spaniard in North Shields: JUAN AMILLIGA

[River Tyne Lass]

I have recently come across a 120 year old grave for a Spanish Captain in Preston Cemetery, North Shields and have added this to Find A Grave. 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/218740067/juan-amilliga

I was thinking it might be nice to be able to add a little something to his biography in case any of his descendants (possibly still living in Spain) might see the photos and wonder about his connection with the North East. 

So I was wondering if anyone might know anything more about him than is revealed by the grave.  If no one does I will just try to find out a little more myself when our local studies eventually reopens again.

Apologies that the inscription is not very clear.  It is not very clear either when actually standing at the memorial and it seems to be in Spanish which complicates things.  Clicking on 'View Original' might make the inscription slightly better but not much, sorry.

This is what is known:

His name was Juan Amilliga.  He died on 3 Enero 1900. (I have googled and this appears to be January).  He is buried in Section J which means he was Roman Catholic.  I can make out that the inscription relates that he was a 'Capitan De La Marina' and 'Mercante Espanola'.  He must have been either well off enough to afford a purchased grave and memorial or have had others who were prepared to arrange this for him.

Thank you for reading this.  It is quite unusual to come across a grave of a foreign Captain in our local cemeteries so I am hoping someone might be able to shed more light on his story.  If not I will look into this more once the local studies opens eventually.

[cath151]

Hi
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FR82-P4M
Possible baptism?
There is a newspaper piece Shields Daily Gazette 5th Jan 1900 entitled "Sudden Death of a Spanish Ship Captain"
Captain of the Spanish steamer Enero from Bilbao.
Mostly about the circumstances of his death.
Available Findmypast or British Newspaper archives.

Cathy

[Radcliff]

aged 85, wowser, he was a good age, I noticed you have left a postem on freebmd that is so thoughtful

[Radcliff]

The newspaper report states he is 35 years old
captain of the Spanish steamer Enero of Bilbao,
The steward who is named Ignatius said that the deceased left his ship,which was lying near Smiths docks,and shortly before 6pm on the 3rd inst,and went ashore apparently in good health, A man named Sharp said the deceased ran into his arms on Wednesday night in the Bull Ring,and asked him to take him to a doctor,A little blood was running from his mouth ,Witness assisted him a little way and then the deceased fell on his nose,the blood rushing from his mouth,With the assistance of PC Hope he took him to the Bull ring police station,PC Hope said the man was dead when they got him to the station.The body bore no marks of violence .Dr Brumwell deposed that death was due to the rupture of a large blood vessel in the chest,and the jury returned a verdict accordingly

[River Tyne Lass]

Thanks so much Cath and Radcliff for help/posts.  I should be able to get that article at the local studies when the local studies reopens.  I know they have this newspaper on micrifilm. 

That is puzzling if he was really 85.  That baptism is for a much younger person.  Would he really still be heading a ship at 85 .. the mind boggles .. 

Yes, I added that postem to possibly let descendants know where to find this deceased ancestor.  I always like to know where the story ends for my own ancestors too - so I think every little pointer helps. 

[Radcliff]

Enero seems to have been a regular visitor to Shields,

[River Tyne Lass]

Aah!  That sounds more credible that he was only 35 and heading a ship. Thanks so much for this Radcliff.  Poor thing what an awful sudden death!   
We will likely never know but surely something must have happened beforehand to trigger a sudden rupture in one still quite young!

[River Tyne Lass]

Enero .. Coincidence that ship was called 'January' and he died in January.

[Tickettyboo]

Though FreeBMD says he was 85, that is an error. The image from which the transcription was done 'does' say 35 - as does the GRO site.

I'll send in a correction report to FreeBMD, it will take a while but they will correct the entry.

Boo