Daily AncestorDrowned
Drowned on an old record means the person died in water; coroners and clerks often added accidentally drowned or the place, such as a river or well.
Rivers, ponds, canals, wells and the sea took many lives, and few people could swim. Children, sailors, boatmen and people crossing rivers on foot or horseback were often at risk.
When a body was found in water, a coroner's inquest was usually held. Inquest records, newspapers and church registers may give more detail than the death register.
As seen in a recordCause of death column, 1850 to 1880 federal mortality schedule
Thos. Cole, 12, M, W, July, Drowned
Sources
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Daily Ancestor. "Drowned." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/causes-of-death/drowned. Last checked 2026-10-01.