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Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/XQB.2ACE/88.3
Message Board Post:
In answer to your enquiry, the William Drysdale born in 1838 and buried in the Masonic
cemetery in Virginia City, NV was a native of Scotland.
The local newspaper reported the circumstances of his death. He and several other
(silver?) miners were riding an elevator up to the surface with some lumber used for
shoring. The cargo shifted and snagged against the side of the mine shaft. The elevator
platform tilted and passengers and cargo fell to the bottom of the mine. The other
passengers on the elevator were Irishmen.
When I visited the gravesite in the 1980's there were fresh flowers on the grave. I
found the lady who placed the flowers there who, as nearly as I can remember, was about
fifty years old at that time.
She was the widow of one of William's descendants. However, she knew little or no
family history except that she believed that Don Drysdale the baseball player was a
distant cousin of her husband.
The masonic order and the Virginia City newspaper records may be able to provide you with
more information.
Let me wish you good luck.
For your information My full name is William Peter Drysdale born in Manhattan November
20th 1937.
My father was William Alfred Drysdale born in Dublin Ireland, October 25, 2003. My mother
was Mary Jane McKeon, born Dublin, Ireland, August 18th 1906. My Paternal grandfather was
Samuel Drysdale Born in or near Belfast, Northern Ireland about 1867 his trades were
riveter in the Belfast shipyards and later infantry sergeant with the Royal Inniskilling
Fusiliers. His father was also Samuel Drysdale.
In the event you uncover any information which would be of interest to me, I would be
grateful if you could share it.
Yours sincerely,
Bill Drysdale