John South death 1894

[Norfolk Nan]

John South was pulled out of the Thames at Putney on 16th December 1894. From the death certificate it appears the coroner found no evidence of how he came to be in the river. He married Sarah Jane Foster in 1883 at St Georges Hanover Square, London and they had two children, Fred and Constance. I found Jane and the children at 94 Haldon Road, Wandsworth on the 1891 census but not John. His address on the death certificate is 87 Halden Road, Wandsworth and he was an insurance agent.

Unusually, I can't find a marriage certificate online (to check his father’s name) nor a newspaper report of his death or the coroner's inquest held on 18th December 1894. If anyone can find any of these or John on the 1891 census it would be very useful in confirming his identity. Thank you.

[sdup26]

Any chance he's the John South, born 1856 in London, Middlesex, married, and working as a butler in 1891, in the household of William Macneill, Tyndale Lodge, Park Side, Wandsworth?

[VALLMO9]

1881 census: He could be the John South (stableman) at 7 Queensberry Mews, Kensington. In which case, I've a hunch his parents were Robert South (coachman/servant) and Letitia Smith. I think one of their other sons was a stableman at a mews in Chelsea, and he married at St George Hanover Square, as well.

Robert and Letitia married in London in 1852.

[Norfolk Nan]

It’s possible - there’s nothing to help connect - or disconnect - him with the little that I know. His family are in Wandsworth and he dies in Wandsworth. He’s married. He was said to be 37 at death which ties in. Thank you, he’s certainly a candidate.

[VALLMO9]

The 1883 marriage record will confirm if he's Robert's son. You'll need to order it. It's one of those London marriages not online.
Possibly not a Church of England marriage, and that might be why the record's not online.

[VALLMO9]

Suggestion: Search for the Dec 1894 coroner's inquest in newspaper reports using his name (not the deceased's name).

[Norfolk Nan]

The marriage cert is in the post and I didn’t have any luck with the newspapers. He might be Robert’s son but right now it’s a guess, not a fact. I wondered if a fresh pair of eyes might spot a useful clue while I wait…

[VALLMO9]

Is the Coroner's name mentioned on the 1894 death cert? If so, what's the name? It will help forum members search for newspaper reports (if any exist).

[VALLMO9]

I wondered if a fresh pair of eyes might spot a useful clue while I wait…

I might be wrong, but I think there were useful clues provided above. In the meantime, research Robert & Letitia South and their children. Lots of similarities that I see with their adult sons when comparing to what little you know about John South. One of their sons was also a "clerk". Look for their online marriage records. See if a John South turns up as a witness, etc, etc.

[VALLMO9]

This birth record looks interesting, and would fit nicely with John South in the 1881 and 1891 census reports:

SOUTH, JOHN MMN: SMITH
GRO Reference: 1858 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 201

Not advising anyone to spend time researching unconfirmed ancestors, but until the marriage cert arrives, you'll have done your leg work with the South/Smith family.