Join us for full benefits and know that ‘You’ll never search alone’ with your Liverpool and South West Lancashire Family History Society.

Locating a death certificate following a death at sea

By stewpot1944 |
General Genealogy

I know that my great great grandfather, Patrick Doyle, died on October 25/26 1859 when his ship, the Royal Charter, sank in a storm near Moelfre off the coast of Anglesey. I got this information from the ship's return document - Account of Foreign Going Ship to be delivered to the Shipping Master at [Liverpool].  He was about 38 years old and married to Bridget. They lived in Upper Wolfe street (or Woolf Street) at the time.
I have searched GRO for a death record, using both Anglesey and Liverpool District of Death criteria. I have also looked at newspaper archives but with no success. Any thoughts on where else I could look would be greatly appreciated.

I don't believe it comes under the usual GRO Register, contact them and ask as I think there is a separate list.  0300 123 1837

Many thanks for the pointer. I have two or three relatives who died overseas so I know where to start digging now. Thank you

Thanks to ShaunJ for the link. There is an immense amount of information available about the wreck of the Royal Charter, but from it all it is apparent that only comparatively few of the bodies which were recovered were ever positively identified. Without a positive identification I very much doubt if a death certificate would have been issued. There doesn't appear to have been an inquest. I suspect that the Board of Trade register of the seamen's effects and wages (noted on Rootschat) is the best evidence for the death of Patrick Doyle.