Harriet Hetlean Smith

[kiterunner]

Oh, thanks for the above, Merry. I will go back and read your posts now!

[kiterunner]

I was going to say they needed a witness from the barge to say what they saw, then I got to the bit where the coroner said he would have liked to have such a witness.

[kiterunner]

Found Thomas's burial on FreeREG - 13 Sep 1875 at Blyth, Nottinghamshire, age 37, abode Ranskill. Harriet's abode on her marriage to William Sewell is Ranskill.

[Merry]

The death reg, burial and drowning article are definitely all the same George Smith, however, the article says: "it will be seen by the list that only two are married", which would suggest this isn't the right Mr Smith. There are no other great fits in Worcester district and none in Wolverhampton district, so he may be difficult to trace (if he died at all before 1847!).

In any case, that article is interesting. I find it pretty hard to imagine how so many could have drowned if the circumstances were as described, even with the likelyhood most couldn't swim.

[kiterunner]

Yes, very interesting.

[Phoenix]

They were working men, no doubt with heavy boots, and probably carrying their tools. None would have been prepared for such a disaster. Even if they could swim, I doubt they could have easily removed bags or unlaced their boots.