Ship death 1844 - HELP

[dreward]

Good evening all

Quite recently it was confirmed that my relations came from Ireland to Devon(1840). As if this wasn't staring a brick wall in the face, then the next bit of information SKS sent, some months later, was like having the Great Wall drop on you.

The info was a newspaper cutting from the Exeter Flying Post(EFP) March 1845 announcing the death (from what?) of Midshipman William Ward, previously unknown, on Christmas Day 1844 on board the so-called East India(EI) ship "Bucephalus" at Calcutta.

Firstly, contrary to what the EFP says, the ship was not part of the East India Co. fleet - may have been hired by any one of foreign companies or even plied locally - so much has been confirmed from the EI website.

Secondly, both the Ships List and Mariners List(Roots Web) have come up with exactly nothing concrete on this subject despite some excellent advice most of which led me into the "depths" of the NA.

What I am looking for now, as finding the ship seems almost impossible, are some ideas how
a) I might obtain either an official death certificate. As the death was in Calcutta would a certificate have been sent to any official instance in the UK?
How for instance would the EFP have got their info?
or
b) I have assumed that, as William's brother Robert was living in Exeter at the time, any official post regarding William's death would have been posted there, this because their father had only the year before died in Dublin.

My thanks for any useful tips or suggestions you may have

Dave

[Geoffers]

.....a newspaper cutting from the Exeter Flying Post(EFP) March 1845 announcing the death (from what?) of Midshipman William Ward, previously unknown, on Christmas Day 1844 on board the so-called East India(EI) ship "Bucephalus" at Calcutta.
What I am looking for now, as finding the ship seems almost impossible, are some ideas how
a) I might obtain either an official death certificate. As the death was in Calcutta would a certificate have been sent to any official instance in the UK?

Difficult, you may be unlucky in tracing anything of this - first thoughts are:

1) Have you tried the index to marine registers of deaths 1837-1965?

2) Did he leave a will?

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[kmdward]

As William died in Calcutta have to looked in the British Churches in Calcutta for burial or Consulate Returns. If he came from Ireland check the CoE and the Catholic churchs as he may have been buried under either faith.

[dreward]

Many thanks for both your replies and ideas. However, it has raised a number of points which I hope one or both of you might help me with.

Never having had the need to venture into marine or "foreign" archives, I have no idea whether there are any sites that could start me on my way.

For instance Geoffers asks:

Have you tried the index to marine registers of deaths 1837-1965? No, but are they available on the internet or is it a question of using pen and paper?

Did he leave a will? Not known but probably unlikely(?) as only being 21, unmarried, I don't think that wouldn't have entered his mind. But if he had there are two possibilities; In Ireland or on the boat he served(?). So would there still be Irish will registers and would there be a register for wills made on board?

KMDWARD suggested British churches in Calcutta for burial or Consular returns might be a source. Where would one look for these - in UK or India?
Also suggests checking CoE and Catholic churches in Ireland.

From what little I know of the Irish church registers, I understand most of these were destroyed in the 1921 fire - or is there some that survived.

Can either of you help me further here?

My thanks

Dave
Utrecht Holland

[kmdward]

GRO Consular returns are available on-line search the GRO index (pay to view), or if you have a local family history centre they may be able to help.
The LDS church has filmed the church records for Calcutta, so you could order the films to look at. Look at the familysearch website and search the library catalogue for an idea of the coverage.
Not all the Irish records were destroyed, but you need to know where he came from in Ireland, then find the local registry office and contact them. Some are better than others depends on the staff.