Genealogy Chat

HI is there such a thing as a list of Brigs for this time.
I have an ancestor who died falling over board the Brig "Sovereign"
20 miles off shore of Fraserburgh in Scotland he is listed as a Seaman,not a fisherman or sailor.
I have no idea where to start.I'm intrigued because on the 1851 census he is a shoemaker!
I would love to find out why he was on the Brig and who it belonged to
Cathie

Briggs were a type of ship as far as I'm aware. And they were usually part of the navy as well I think.

Gypsyjoe

Gypsyjoe,
thanks for that,i had no idea at all.perhaps he was in the navy then.
cathie

He could have been Royal Navy or Merchant Navy.

Being a sailing ship I think it had two masts, have you searched just the word Brigg or sailing Brigg? It should bring up some information.

There are books as well.

When did this gentleman die.
Gypsyjoe

What was his name?

thanks Gypsy Joe,
thats kind of you,i'll do as you suggest and see what i get
Cathie

Alexander Geddes he was about 27 when he drowned in 1855 leaving a wife and four children,i have the obit for the death sent to me by a Genes member.
Cathie

Hi Just copied what i have on my tree,will paste it here


DEATH
Alexander Geddes (Seaman) Lonmay, born Cruden Aberdeenshire. Son of John (Shoemaker) and Jane ms McKisser. Married to Catherine. 4 children. Died 11/05/1855 cause of death. Drowned by falling overboard the Brig "Soveriegn" of Fraserburgh
latitude and longitude given on death cert are about 20miles of shore from Fraserburgh
Cathie

http://www.economicexpert.com/a/HMS:Royal:Sovereign.html

http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Royal_Sovereign_(1786)

I had a look at one of the shipping sites and found a merchant ship of 601 tons called the Sovereign, built in 1854 (Official Number 24547). This seems more likely than the earlier Royal Sovereign, a Royal navy ship.

If he was in the merchant navy, I could have a look for him when I next go to the National Archives at Kew. He may be on their microfilm records. Will be going the week after next sometime.

David

Hi David,
thank you so much for your offer that would be fantastic.
Sorry not to have replied sooner,but it was my son's 21st yesterday and i was really busy organizing.
I agree that it is more likely to be a merchant ship, i think your really clever finding that info,i have been looking for ages with no luck so far.
Fingers crossed though
Cathie

I would start by seeing if the death was reported in the local paper. The Fraserborough Public Library may hold a copy.

Fraserburgh Library
King Edward Street
Fraserburgh
AB43 9PN

Tel 01346 518197
Fax 01346 510528
Email [email protected]

Thanks Paul,
I will send them an e-mail to see if they hold the papers or films of them etc
Cathie

HI,
I e-mailed this Fraserburgh library on the 25th as suggested asking if they had copies or films of old newspapers
And have had no response
perhaps their to busy to answer
might phone them on Monday
But have found Alexander on Scotland people and will view the two entries for him,one of which is a marine register? whatever that is and the other his death registered in Lonmay
Cathie

Just thought i would let my helpers know,that i did get a response from Fraserburgh and they sent me a newspaper article about the event.Also received a photo of the page in the marine register that his death was entered in to by a very kind member who was going to Kew and looked it up for me.Because of all this help i then found him on Scotlands people and have obtained certs.
So all in all I'm very happy indeed and a very big thank you to all
Cathie