I have been looking at the newly released British Royal Navy Allotment Declarations and have been looking at some of the brothers of my ancestor James Purkis.
I knew that his brother William had died young and I have checked the possible death I had for him on the GRO Index, which confirmed that he was 27 when he died.
Earlier today I downloaded his Allotment Declaration for 1836 and noted his wife Sarah Jane (mn Primmer). He had three daughters born to him, one probably posthumously.
I thought I'd look for his death in the newspapers. Here is the link:
http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/v...18381126%2f028
It is the second column from the right, half-way down.
I hadn't realised the history behind his death and my mother wouldn't have known either.
He must have been a very unhappy man to have cut off his hand and to have hung himself. His poor wife, what an ordeal.
The rest of the brothers seemed to have been a lot more stable, thankfully.