How do I record the fact that somebody didn't die?

Post by **hsw** » 17 Dec 2012 16:48

My great-grandfather should have been on-shift during the Albion colliery disaster on 23rd June 1894 which killed 290 men (out of 295) and 123 ponies (out of 125) , but for reasons involving a pub, he escaped with his life. I can obviously create a note with this information but I'd like to have it appear in the right date sequence. Any suggestions?

ID:6655

johnmorrisoniom · Post by **johnmorrisoniom** » 17 Dec 2012 17:02

I would create an occupation fact for that date, and then attach the note to that, or record the story on the notes field for that dact.

Post by **tatewise** » 17 Dec 2012 17:29

You could also create a Source Record with as much detail of the disaster as you care to record, including the fact that your great-grandfather was not on-shift.
Then cite that Source against his Occupation Fact.
The Occupation Fact Date field should use a Date Period 'From' date and 'To' date to clarify that he was employed both before and after the disaster.

In addition to all that, he will presumably have an actual Death Event with a Date some time in 1900's, or at least use a Range Date After the last date you know he was alive.

Also other events such as the 1901 Census and 1911 Census will give evidence that he survived the disaster.

Post by **hsw** » 18 Dec 2012 09:01

I think I'll use an occupation field for the specific date, and record the story on the notes field for that fact. Extending the date to a period for the occupation would be misleading, as I don't have any sources to support that (and given his chequered employment history, it's by no means a reasonable assumption that he was working there long beforehand or afterwards).

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