Investigation of death and reburial mystery.

[Jinxieb]

One of my biggest mysteries in my Liverpool ancestry is a notation written on a U.S. passport application of my gr. grandmother Mary (Snow) Hanlon. On the 27 October 1916, she signed a passport application. The application stated that she was going to depart for Liverpool on 4 November 1916, on the S.S. Philadelphia. The reason she stated as needing to go to Liverpool was "to have her aunt reburied and death investigated"
She arrived in Liverpool on 12 Nov 1916 on the Philadelphia and arrived back in the United States on 28 Nov 1916, on the S.S. Finland. I have copies of the passenger lists for both. I would like to solve this mystery. Would anyone have any hints as to where to begin? Would the record of an investigation be in a coroner inquest?

[Bertieone]

Newspapers, could be reports if the body was exhumed, coroners reports also may be available.

Aunts name? some of our members may have access to the papers and will help.

[Jinxieb]

The aunt, I think is Elizabeth Davis/Davies. Mary's (Snow) Hanlon's father William Snow had only one sister and she lived and died in Wales and Mary's mother Margaret, had one sister Elizabeth. I have never found a marriage for Elizabeth, and there is a death for an Elizabeth Davis, who is about the right age in Sept of 1916.

[Blue70]

Are we talking about Elizabeth Davies, buried at Ford Cemetery on 22 Sep 1916, of 45 Eldon Place, aged 61 years?


Blue

[Jinxieb]

Sorry for the delay in posting a reply Blue. Yes, the death of Elizabeth Davis, age 61, Eldon Place is the one I am thinking could be her aunt.

[Blue70]

I'm not aware of the recording of exhumations. I don't know if re-burials were recorded with the other burials in the records for Ford. I can't see any further burial records for Elizabeth at Ford. If there had been an inquest in the first instance the address in the burial record would likely have said Liverpool Coroner. Mary may have made enquiries about the cause of death and asked for an inquest. I don't know how common it was back then to investigate deaths after burial. Inquest case records for this time have not survived but there is an inquest register (available on microfilm only) that shows similar information as will be recorded on the death certificate. It's possible re-burial could have taken place at another cemetery but I would have thought some sort of note would have been added to the Ford burial records. There may have been a mention of this death in the newspapers if it was due to unusual circumstances.


Blue

[Jinxieb]

Thank you Blue for your prompt reply. I will give a look at the microfilms and newspapers when I in Liverpool in November. This has been one of the greatest mysteries surrounding my Gr. Grandmother. I think I will order a copy of the death cert for Elizabeth, just to learn if it is the correct person.