Inquests and Articles

This morning I received some death certificates for members of my BUCHAN family.  On Alexander Ritchie BUCHAN's certificate it states his cause of death as 'Verdict of Jury - Sudden Failure of the Heart'.

Part of Alexander Ritchie BUCHAN's death certificate - 1896

My grandmother mentioned in a letter years ago that "Grandad B [a fisherman] was actually pulling in a fishing net, when he apparently ( I presume) had a heart attack & died at age 34".  I had no idea there was an inquest into his death though.

I searched through the newspapers on New Zealand's wonderful Papers Past site and found a mention in the 'Casualties' section:

A sudden death occurred about 8 o'clock on Wednesday night, 2nd. Alexander Buchan, who was engaged fishing with his brother John in the lower harbour, had just hauled in the net, when he went to the bow of the boat and fell forward, and on his brother going to him found he was dead. An inquest was held on Thursday afternoon when after hearing the evidence of Charles and John Buchan, John Keenan, and Dr Cunninghame, the jury returned a verdict that deceased died from sudden failure of the heart. Deceased leaves a wife and five children in very poor circumstances. (Otago Witness - 10 Dec 1896, p15)

Otago Witness - 10 Dec 1896, p15

His wife Agnes (nee FINDLAY) was left with 5 children under the age of 9 - their daughter was only 3 weeks old!

Alexander was buried in Port Chalmers cemetery on the 5th December 1896.  Also buried on the plot were members of the GRANT family who I believe to be unrelated and a Robert JONES (according to the Cemeteries Database on the Dunedin Ciy Council website).  On the entry in the Cemeteries Database is the note:"GRANT PLOT: CONSENT OF CHURCH"

image via flickr

It seems that the church took pity on Alexander's family (who had only arrived in the country 3 years earlier) and because of their "very poor circumstances", buried him in this plot as an act of charity.

I am really keen to find any surviving inquest records as I know nothing about a brother called John!

Next Steps:

• Locate inquest records (if any)
• Search for church records that may mention the burial
• Research 'brother John'

Son of a Lunatic

I received another reply from the wonderful archivist at NHS Grampian archives. Apparently, Agnes' brother Wilson was also admitted into the Aberdeen Royal Lunatic Asylum. Wilson was suicidal when he entered the asylum in June 1875. He was released under the authority of John BUCHAN in October 1876. He had either recovered from his 'melancholia' or was being cared for at home.

While I wait for the case notes to arrive, I've been looking into John BUCHAN as he seems to be playing a vital role in his families lives. I don't know yet whether this John is Agnes' son or another family member. There are 2 or 3 John Buchans of the right age in the Lonmay parish in 1881. One married to a Mary PIRIE and one to an Isabella. I downloaded the death record of the only appropriate Lonmay death record (between 1876 and 1930) - this John was married to Mary PIRIE and his mother is recorded as Nancy BUCHAN (father - Arthur).

Statutory Death Record of John Buchan, 1907

Click for larger image

At first glance, it seems the other John in the 1881 census is my man. HOWEVER, the names Nancy and Agnes do sound similar - could this be an error? The informant was the man's son, who was 18 on the 1881 census and so very likely to know his grandmother well.

A quick google search reveals that Nancy seems to be a nickname for Agnes. This record is looking more likely to be a match. Hopefully, the case notes will give me a clue (at least to whether the John Buchan whom Wilson was released to was in fact Agnes' son).

Then it dawned on me, dear readers, the case notes had also given son John's occupation as 'carter'. The same occupation is recorded on these records and so, in a village full of fisherman, I can be fairly confident this is my man.

1881 Census Record

John BUCHAN & family and FINDLAY servant

Click for larger image

Before I go, however, the census record and the name Mary PIRIE seemed very familiar to me. Then I noticed the name of their servant, Agnes FINDLAY - this was a direct ancestor!

I even blogged about this Agnes' gravestone a few months ago. I had often wondered if this Agnes was related to her 'employer' as her mother was a Buchan. It turns out young Agnes (Mad Agnes' grandaughter) was living with her uncle. I will look into this situation more and report back. I LOVE genealogy!

If you've only just found this blog - this particular story starts here.

Tombstone Tuesday

Alexander Ritchie Buchan

Born August 9th 1862

Died December 2nd 1896

Aged 34 years

Agnes Buchan [nee Findlay]

Born August 18th 1866

Died November 25th 1939

Aged 73 years

TO MEMORY - EVER DEAR

(Port Chalmers Cemetery, Dunedin, New Zealand)

I received this photo (via email) only a few days ago from a distant relative.
I look forward to working with her on my BUCHAN branch.