"Supposed to have been about 6:40am on Thursday 27 October 1870 in the sea near St. Abbs Head in the parish of Coldingham.
"Supposed to be have been drowned along with four companions forming the crew of the 'Follow Me' of Cove Village. Which is believed to have been accidentally capsized and sunk in a sudden gale."
"Body not recovered".
Registered based on information supplied by the Procurator Fiscal on 16 November 1870 at Cockburnspath.
There were five Fairbairns died in the 'Follow Me':
- Walter Fairbairn (born 1802)
- Paul Fairbairn (born 1842), his son
- James Fairbairn (born 1822), his nephew (son of his brother James)
- David Fairbairn (born 1828), his nephew (also son of his brother James)
- James Fairbairn (born 1855), his grand nephew (son of the above David) 3
Sources
1
General Register Office for Scotland, Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths (Scotland), SI DEATHS 1870 731-00-14.
2
General Register Office for Scotland, Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths (Scotland), SI DEATHS 1870 731-00-15. Year of birth calculated as 1855 based on age (15) as at 27 Oct 1870 per death record.
3
General Register Office for Scotland, Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths (Scotland), SI DEATHS 1870 731-00-15.
4Cockburnspath churchyard gravestone., GRAVESTONE OF DAVID FAIRBAIRN AND JOAN PATERSON.
Cause of his death was Drowned at sea.