Edmund [aka Edward, Bridget’s husband] Barry’s civil death
registration stated he was a fireman who died at 53 Warcham St – after being
scalded by steam [1]. This apparently
was somewhat of an understatement, and perhaps a huge one.
This morning I found a newspaper article-- about his death--that
made the front page of the Boston Evening Transcript on 17 July 1879 [2].
A fierce storm had made its way through the Boston area the
day Edward died – bringing rain, hail, wind -- and lightning, which struck a
chimney in the rear of Cressy & Noyes’ planning mill – in the vicinity
where Edward was killed.
‘Forty’ feet
of the chimney was knocked away and bricks fell upon several nearby buildings,
including the boiler room Edward was inside.
According to the article, he was "no doubt instantly killed." But after four hours of tunneling, his body was never found.
Also according to the article, Edward had a wife and five
children, which was correct, but the article also stated he had lived at 9
Bolton Street – which is apparently incorrect, based on his death registration,
which clearly states he had lived at “24 Lark.”
Furthermore, the 1880 Boston Directory – which commenced on
1 July 1880 – has “Mrs. Edmund Barry” [aka Bridget] living at “24 Lark” – about
a year after her husband’s death.
So…I’m wondering -- since and if Edward’s body was never found –
who declared him officially deceased?
Was there a court record that needed to be filed?
Notes:
[1] Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1910, 312:151, no.
3859, death, entry for Edmund Barry (From original records held by the
Massachusetts Archives. Online
database: NewEnglandAncestors.org [now
AmericanAncestors.org], New England Historic Genealogical society, 2004.)
[2] “A Building Struck by Lightning and Partially Burned – A
Fireman Buried in the Ruins,” Boston Evening
Transcript, 17 July 1879, front page; digital image, Google News (Archive) (news.google.com : accessed 28 August 2013).
