Alan Walter John Fergusson (1878 - abt. 1909)

Born 15 Aug 1878 in Dailly, Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Muriel Catherine Louisa Fergusson — married 6 Feb 1907 (to 6 Aug 1909) in Englefield Green, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Died about 6 Aug 1909 at about age 30 in Solway Firth, off Burnfoot, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Biography

The third son and only child of Sir James Fergusson by his second wife Olive Richman, Alan was born at Kilkerran House, Dailly, Ayrshire on 15th August 1878.^[1]

On 6th February 1907 Alan married his half second cousin, Muriel Catherine Louisa Fergusson, at St Jude's Church, Englefield Green, Surrey. The occasion was witnessed by the bride's father, Charles Fergusson, and her grandfather, Hew Fergusson.^[2] The couple had no issue.

On 6th August 1909, Alan and Muriel, together with their chauffeur and two friends, left Creetown, Kirkcudbrightshire, on a steam yacht for a short pleasure cruise to the North Sea. About two miles offshore, in the Solway Firth near Burnfoot, an oilstove, used for cooking, was accidentally upset and ignited the fuel onboard. The boat was engulfed in flames, forcing the passengers to jump overboard. Alan and the chauffeur, Sidney Leal, drowned, while Muriel died on board the boat from heart failure caused by shock and exposure during her immersion in the sea. The two friends were rescued.^[3][4][5][6]

Sources

1. ↑ Scotlands People, Statutory Registers (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ : accessed 8 Jun 2020), Statutory Birth record for Fergusson, Alan Walter John (father: Sir James Fergusson, Baronet, HCMG PC, mother: Olive Richman, birth date: 15 Aug 1878, birth place: Kilkerran House, Dailly, Ayr), reference: 585/61. Name corrected on 17 Sep 1878, reference: 585/00 001 29.
2. ↑ "England, Surrey Parish Registers, 1536-1992," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGZT-YPT3 : accessed 8 Jun 2020), Alan Walter John Fergusson and Muriel Catherine Louisa Fergusson, 06 Feb 1907; citing Marriage, , London Metropolitan Archives, England; FHL microfilm 1,471,805. Free Ancestry Image
3. ↑ The Register, Adelaide, South Australia. 11 Aug 1909. Page 7. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/ Tragic Accident, accessed 8 Jun 2020.)
4. ↑ Scotlands People, Statutory Registers (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ : accessed 8 Jun 2020), Statutory Death record for Fergusson, Alan Walter John (father: Right Hon Sir James Fergusson, Baronet, MP, mother: Olive Richman (dec), age: 30y, death date: Presumed 6 Aug 1909, place: Solway Firth near Burnfoot, cause of death: Drowning through a boating accident), reference: 879/17.
5. ↑ Scotlands People, Statutory Registers (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ : accessed 8 Jun 2020), Statutory Death record for Fergusson, Muriel Louisa (father: Kenneth Fergusson, late Captain 79th Highlanders, mother: Ella Davidson (dec), age: 35y, death date: 6 Aug 1909, place: on steam yacht "Foam" off Burnfoot, cause of death: Heart failure from shock and exposure consequent on immersion in sea during a boating accident), reference: 879/16.
6. ↑ Scotlands People, Statutory Registers (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ : accessed 8 Jun 2020), Statutory Death record for Leal, Sidney Edward (father: John Leal, mother: Sophia Humpherys, age: 26y, death date: Presumed 6 Aug 1909, place: In Solway Firth off Burnfoot, cause of death: Drowning through a boating accident), reference: 879/18.

See also:

• Wikidata: Item Q75923731