Death in Trinidad

John Connacher

My ancestor, John Connacher, born 4 Jan1833 Greenock Scotland, appears to have died at Trinidad in 1859. (This is according to a gravestone inscription found on his parents grave.)

I am looking for ideas on how to find about more with respect to his transit to Trinidad as well as his death. According to the 1851 Census he was living in Renfrew Scotland with his parents, and listed Engineer as occupation. So unsure if he went there to work or was a crew member of some sort.

There is nothing online on ScotlandsPeople, Ancestry, Familysearch, Findmyfamily, Billiongraves or Findagrave. I also looked on the National Archives site to see if there was a mention of him in the merchant marine or Armed forces and came up empty. (National Archives suggested Scotlands People would have a record of his death - nothing online)

Should any records exist, I am hoping for an emigration record or a death record. Civil registration appears to have started in Trinidad in 1848. Not sure if there were any immigration or emigration records as Trinidad was part of the British Empire.

Any thoughts or suggestions on where to look or how to proceed?

Thanks

John

Shannon Potter Wilcox

Hi @John Connacher

I looked into the FamilySearch Wiki and there are several links with the UK and British immigration and emigration. Here is the link and hopefully, you will find something. https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/India_Emigration_and_Immigration

Please come back if you need more help.

Kind Regrds,

Shannon

John Connacher

Hi Shannon,

Thanks for your time. Unfortunately that link seems to only refer to India Emigration, I am not seeing any resources relevant to Trinidad. If I missed one, please let me know.

Thanks

John

Shannon Potter Wilcox

Oh, John I am so sorry. I was hoping that would be helpful to you. The following might be of some help for you. https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Trinidad_and_Tobago_Civil_Registration They have a link for requesting birth, marriage and death records at this site. This link is Immigration and Emigration https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Trinidad_and_Tobago_Emigration_and_Immigration

I hope this will be of some help to you.

Kind Regards,

Shannon

Paul W

@John Connacher

Shannon provides useful inks here. I would email the Registrar General's department (if you haven't already done so) as they could advise on the chances of obtaining a death certificate, and might even advise of a local studies group in Trinidad who might have encountered similar cases to that of your ancestor.

Please update us if and when you receive any positive news on the subject.