General Chat

Just a quick strange question. if a homeless person dies whilst on the streets, how would they be identified? I'mlooking for someone who i think may have died whilst living on the streets after having a real hard time. How would i be able to trace them etc? How would they be identified etc. Can anyone help? thanks Denise

Do you mean in relatively recent years?

Back in 1800s many went unidentified and I have seen countless parish register entries in this area saying for eg.
'A man found dead'
Unknown found drowned'

One would think that nowadays more effort would be made to identify and name people.....Whether or not they would in fact be recorded in their true name is questionable. They may have been known by a name other than their given name.


Gwyn

thanks for that. yes, i mean in aout 1990 onwards.

They are usually known as John Doe or Jane Doe according to sex. However I am not sure whether the death would be registered as John or Jane Doe.

If the death was in the 1990's then the body should be identified through dental records. Most people these days have visited a dentist at some time during their life, unlike those in the 1800's and 1700's who would probably have never seen a dentist in their life.

Dianne xx

Denise, would you know the area they were possibly living in? You could look at the local newspaper files as often there will be appeals if someone has no identification on them. It's so sad to think someone can die and not be named yet must have happened so many times.

Hope you find what you are looking for.

Lizx

Denise my first husband died while living on the streets ( we had divorced by then) but my daughter registered his death and I have a copy of the death certificate.

lynn

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLIES.