Notes : James Miller died as the result of an accident - he drowned in the Harbour at Wick. The exact details from the certificate are as follows...... James Miller (married to Margaret Sutherland), Fisherman When and where died - 3rd or 4th November 1874, Pulteneytown HarbourParents - William Miller, Fisherman ; Mary Miller (Maiden Name Miller) deceased Cause of Death - Accidental death by drowning Informant - William Miller (son)
There is a note on the death certificate in the margin - "See Register of Corrected Entries, Volume 1, Page 189, November 25th 1874". I will have to see if someone can look this entry up for me - the corrected entries are only held in Edinburgh as far as I know.
Below is a transcription of the article which was printed in the Northern Ensign on 12th November 1874....
"FOUND DROWNED
Considerable excitement was created here throughout last week by the announcement that James Miller, fisherman, Sarclet, had been missing since Monday evening. It appeared that Miller had been in town on that day, in the early part of which he had received £7 from his fishcurer, and that he had been seen towards night in company with some of his family in the neighbourhood of the Harbour, being at that time somewhat under the influence of drink, and inclined to be quarrelsome.
Search was daily made, and was successful on Saturday afternoon, when Miller's body was found in the New Harbour, a short distance down from opposite the jetty. In his pockets were found £6 and some silver, and the impression is that having got his herring fishing boat recently drawn up opposite to where he was found, he had gone to see it and had fallen over the jetty into the water. He was seen in that neighbourhood at a pretty late hour that evening. Miller was about 60 years of age, and has left a widow and grown up family."
Supplied by Steven McGregor (Thurso, Caithness).
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