Death certificate available?

Question

Would a death certificate be available for my gt gt grandpa, Edward Ward?

He was killed in the "Capitol Disaster" in Richmond, Virginia in 1870 when the courthouse collapsed. He was on a visit to the USA from England. He died leaving my gt gt grandma Sarah Jane Pagett (maiden name) a widow

and he had 3 children. Who would I need to contact?

Answer 1

If he was a UK citizen just visiting America at the time, then he'll probably be indexed in the GROs foreign office and consular returns of Britons who died at sea or abroad.  Ancestry don't have these indexes, you'll need to try 1837online (now findmypast.com) and check all the foreign consular lists.  If he's there, order a certificate from the GRO in Southport online in the usual way, just tick the foreign returns section.

There may also have been an American certificate issued as well.  Not being an expert on the state of Virginia, I have no idea when these records begin or who you might contact.

BTW, UK foreign office returns don't give a cause of death.  I ordered one for an ancestor who died in Genoa, Italy and there was no space for this information at all, so don't expect too much info from the British end - very minimal.

Answer 2

http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whoweare/exhibi...

Notice on this page, that there is a drawing which was in the newspaper following the incident in April, 1870.  Wikipedia states a death toll of 67 persons killed.  With that exact number, it is very possible that a list exists, and the Virginia state library is known for its quality collections.  Personally, I would send email to the library, and ask for help in researching this, for any document that could include his name.  You would be 'hitting' research experts on Virginia, this route.

Virginia did have certificates on a sporadic basis in the late 1800s, and Richmond could be one of the localities. Since you already might be 'speaking' to a person in Richmond, tuck that question in with the rest. They would be the most likely to know if one is available or not.

The other record that you may find is POSSIBLY some guardianship for the children. I'd assume that to be more likely filed in the area where the wife/ children lived then.

What I am suggesting is to not limit to a death certificate as we know them, but collateral info, which could lead to one, if it existed.

Answer 3

I agree w/emland.

Answer 4

Contact the Office of Vital Records in Richmond, VA

http://www.vdh.state.va.us/Vital_Records...

They say they have records dating back to 1853, so he should be there.  Remember though, record keeping wasn't done as well back then.

Answer 5

you can go to a register office that deals with births deaths and marriages, it would be better to go to one where your great great grandfather was registered/home town, because if you try in another town they may not be able to find records..

Answer 6

FreeBMD has these but register is not complete

Surname  First name(s)  Age  District  Vol  Page  

--------------------------------------...

Deaths Mar 1870   (>99%)

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Ward  Edward  75  Carlisle  10b 337    

Ward  Edward  47  Birkenhead  8a 322    

Ward  Edward  0  St. Ives  3b 206    

Ward  Edward  45  Darlington  10a 11    

Ward  Edward  53  Madeley  6a 573    

Ward  Edward Isaiah  57  Newport Sh.  6a 707    

--------------------------------------...

Deaths Jun 1870   (>99%)

--------------------------------------...



Ward  Edward  6  Holborn  1b 411    

--------------------------------------...

Deaths Dec 1870   (>99%)

--------------------------------------...



Ward  Edward  35  Strand  1b 401    

Ward  Edward  84  Sculcoates  9d 86    

Ward  Edward  57  Woolwich  1d 582    

Ward  Edward  0  Manchester  8d 245    

Ward  Edward  63  Lymington  2b 379    

--------------------------------------...

Deaths Mar 1871   (>99%)

--------------------------------------...



Ward  Edward  0  Chorlton  8c 490    

Ward  Edward  81  Dudley  6c 68    

Ward  Edward  1  Stockton  10a 73    

Ward  Edward  1  Holywell  11b 193    

Ward  Edward John T  1  Mutford  4a 512    

http://www.vacapitol.org/disaster.htm a newspaper report

http://www.jstor.org/pss/1915276

Federal census mortality schedules have Edward Ward listings.

Nothing in National archives for us or uk or on find a grave.

If you can give us an area they were living in and approx age of Sarah and kids we can try to find them in the census returns.