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Suicides - how were they recorded

Suicides - how were they recorded

Posted: 28 Feb 2015 10:50PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 1 Mar 2015 2:01PM GMT
I have a relative with the story attached to her dying by suicide. How did such deaths get recorded ?

Re: Suicides - how were they recorded

Posted: 1 Mar 2015 2:02PM GMT
Classification: Query
Please explain: do you mean recorded in official documents or recorded in a family tree?

If you provide more information, such as at least an approximate date and where in the world the death occurred, it will be much easier for someone to help.

-- board admin.

Re: Suicides - how were they recorded

Posted: 1 Mar 2015 6:12PM GMT
Classification: Query
I believe this death supposedly by suicide would have happened after 1911 and before 1935. I can find the person on a census for 1911, but family myth says she committed suicide by walking into a pond in Sussex with her pockets filled with stones. I am trying to find whether a death is registered for her if this did happen to her.

Re: Suicides - how were they recorded

Posted: 1 Mar 2015 6:19PM GMT
Classification: Query
Assuming you mean Sussex, England, the death would have been registered just like any other. Have you tried FreeBMD? http://www.freebmd.org.uk/

Keep in mind that it's much easier for someone to help if as much information is provided, e.g., full names, dates, and locations. If you've found the person on the census, including a transcription of image of that would be very helpful.


Re: Suicides - how were they recorded

Posted: 1 Mar 2015 7:39PM GMT
Classification: Query
The death would be registered, the same as any other - the only difference would be that the informant on the registration will be shown as the coroner, rather than a family member, because if the story is true, there would have been an inquest.

You find may find a record of the inquest exists, usually held by the relevant county archive, but you may also get a lot of information by checking the local newspapers.

Re: Suicides - how were they recorded

Posted: 3 Mar 2015 1:19PM GMT
Classification: Query
One of my great-grandfathers supposedly committed suicide and his death has been recorded like any other, but as has been mentioned already the informant was the coroner and the dates of the inquest are given. The cause of death is "committed suicide whilst temporarily insane" which was a way of saying he didn't know what he was doing so he didn't commit a mortal sin and could therefore be given a church burial, although the burial registers will usually have a note in the margin that the deceased committed suicide. The newspaper clippings I've got go into minute detail, and as it was death by poisoning, there's more information there than I really wanted or needed! I actually don't think he committed suicide - I think he was murdered, but that's off topic.....!

Chris

Re: Suicides - how were they recorded

Posted: 13 Mar 2015 10:27PM GMT
Classification: Query
Deaths that were the subject of coroners' inquests had the cause of death entered onto the death certificate using the wording of the verdict of the coroner's jury; e.g. an ancestor's death on the railway (run over by train) had a verdict of "accidental death" and hence this wording was used in the cause of death field on the certificate. The local newspaper report revealed he's bled to death whilst seeking help; another ancestor died in a coal mine and the same verdict and same wording were used, the local newspaper report detailed his being crushed by a rock falling from the roof, being taken home with a broken back and dying the following day. These are nineteenth century examples; possibly there may have been some change in procedure in later times.

Thus it is usually well worth seeking newspaper reports if a coroner's inquest has been held into a death.

Coroner's records often survive; they will usually be found in county archives. Inquests were usually reported in detail in local newspapers; runs of local newspapers papers will usually be found in major local libraries and in county archives. If a locality had more than one local newspaper, it is well worth checking them all as some reported more fully than others.
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