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This is on behalf of a friend.
Frederick Peter Smith was born 1861, Shincliffe, Co Durham.

We have all of the census records including 1911.

The problem is that according to family stories Frederick Peter Smith was on board SS Shannon when it was torpedoed in the Irish Channel and on hearing the news of his death his wife, Sarah Jane Smith collapsed and died.
Sarah died in the first quarter of 1915 ( possibly 7th January) in Sunderland aged 51 years so presumably Frederick died soon before this date.
Where would we be able to find a record of his death in order to obtain his death certificate.
All suggestions welcomed

Thank you

Have you looked at the CWGC site

Hi Glitter Baby
I've checked the CWGC and have Googled SS Shannon but nothing matches the year of the sinking.
Frederick Peter Smith was as seaman and last known occupation was "Stoker"
The are several of us trying to find a further lead on this man and we're all coming up with nothing

connected - father maybe?

Peter Smith
England and Wales Census, 1861

birth: 1830 —Wickam, Durham
residence: 1861 —Shincliffe, Durham, England
census: 1861 —Shincliffe, Durham, England

record title: England and Wales Census, 1861
name: Peter Smith
event: Census
event date: 1861
gender: Male
age: 31
relationship to head of household: Head
birthplace: Wickam, Durham
record type: Household
registration district: Durham
sub-district: 4 St Nicholas
civil parish: Shincliffe
county: Durham

???

Peter Smith
England and Wales Census, 1881

birth: 1860 —Durham, Durham,
residence: 1881 —, Royal Navy at Sea and in ports abroad
census: 1881 —, Royal Navy at Sea and in ports abroad

record title: England and Wales Census, 1881
name: Peter Smith
age: 21
gender: Male
birth year: 1860
birthplace: Durham, Durham,
marital condition: S
profession/occupation: Private 2/4 Regt
census place: , Royal Navy at Sea and in ports abroad
record type: Vessel
family history library film: 1342354
the national archives reference: RG11
piece/folio: 5633 / 121

only reference I can find of a ship called the Shannon


1899 Thursday 28th September
Steamer aground in the Shannon
The Steamship Kittie, from Philadelphia with 3000 tons of maize for Messrs Bannatyne and Sons, Limerick went ashore at the Cock Rock near Tervoe on Saturday morning. The accident it is said arose through the vessel refusing to steer. She remained fast till Sunday morning when she was taken-off by the Shannon the cargo having been lightened in the meantime. The vessel was docked on Sunday night by the Flying Huntsman.

Gone to the war
The Guinness records show that the Liffey and the Boyne were commandeered by the British authorities during the First World War and the latter saw some service on the canals in France.

They also indicate that the Shannon was a mechanical monster being steam-powered and twin-screwed with a propeller and rudder fore and aft. She could not swing around at the jetty but went up and down the river without having to turn around.

“Her engine room was amidship and she had a loco-type boiler fitted crosswise over the drive shaft. The engine room was very hot and very uncomfortable for the drivers who had to come up a ladder from the port side on to the deck and go down another on the starboard side to keep minding the boiler, oiling the engine and looking after the pumps”.

http://www.mariner.ie/history/articles/ships/where-are-the-barges-now

HMS Shannon
2nd Cruiser Squadron Grand Fleet.
November 1914 refit at Cromarty.
31 May 1916 present at the Battle of Jutland.
November 1916 Murmansk.
1917-18 Atlantic convoy escort.
1922 Sold for scrap

No sign of her being torpedoed....

Peter

No sign of Shannon being torpedoed (or anything else!) in first quarter of 1915

See http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishBVLSMN1501.htm


Not in 1914 either

http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishBVLSaRN1408.htm

Frederick Peter Smith is NOT on this list...

http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCasAlpha1914-18S2.htm
Peter

HMS Shannon. Launched on the 20th September 1906 and commissioned into the Royal Navy's 5th Cruiser squadron in march 1908 as flagship for the rear admiral. In April 1909 transferred to the 2nd Cruiser squadron but in December 1909 HMS Shannon was involved in a collision with HMS Prince George in Portsmouth sustaining damage. Re-commissioned in march 1912 into the 3rd cruiser Squadron and in 1913 joining 2nd cruiser squadron. on the outbreak of world war one she joined the Grand fleet in August 1914, went into refit in November 1914 at Cromarty. Took part in the Battle of Jutland, and in November 1916 went to Murmansk. Joined the Atlantic Convoys escorting convoys between 1917- 1918. after the war HMS Shannon was placed in reserve in 1920. becoming an accommodation ship attached to HMS Actaeon finally paid off and scrapped 12th December 1922.

note from the above that in Nov 1914 the ship was undergoing a refit in Cromarty

54 seems a little old to be in the Navy. Not impossible I guess.

Rose

I wonder if he left her, and she collapsed at that news?


This guy is about the right age, but Uxbridge is in Middlesex



Deaths Mar 1917 (>99%)

Smith Frederick P 56 Uxbridge 3a 83




sylvia

A belated thank you to all who contributed to my thread.
I started to thank members in the early hours of this morning but suddenly got a message saying that GR were having problems and they were sorry for the inconvenience.
So once again thank you to everyone who contibuted. It's really appreciated

Just to note that it could well be worth investigating the death Sylvia posted.

There were only 3 Frederick P Smiths born in England/Wales 1859 to 1862, so if the age at death is at all accurate, and that FPS was born there, the FPS who died has to be one of these:


Births Sep 1860
SMITH Frederick P[ea]d[di]on Marylebone 1a 396

Births Mar 1861 (yours)
SMITH Frederick Peter Durham 10a 267

Births Dec 1861
Smith Frederick Percy Salford 8d 58