• Born: 1870, Berwick, Sussex, England
• Christened: 13 Nov 1870, Berwick, Sussex, England ¹
• Married: 13 Feb 1899, St. Mark's Church, Kennington, Lambeth, Surrey, England ²
• Buried: 14 Aug 1899, Berwick, Sussex, England ³

  Research Notes:

Harold son of John Shoosmith of Berwick, farmer, and Harriet Chappell (baptismal record)

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At the time of the 1891 England Census Harold Shoosmith, age 20, born in Berwick Sussex, clerk at grocers, was with his widowed mother at 10 Crowhurst Rd., Lambeth London.

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Harold Shoosmith of Brixton Surrey died aged 28 years (burial record).

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FOUND DROWNED.—On Thursday evening, at the Town Hall, Lewes, the East Sussex Coroner (Mr. G. Vere Benson) held an inquest on the body of Harold Shoosmith, a piano finisher, of London, which was found in the river about 20 yards above Hamsey Locks, on Wednesday morning. — In opening the inquest the Coroner explained that the body had been identified within the last quarter of an hour. — Sidney Shoosmith, a clerk, living at 5, Handforth-road, Brixton, S.W., identified the body as that of his brother, Harold Shoosmith, aged 28. Witness last saw him alive the previous Friday morning at his home. Deceased was employed as a finisher in a piano factory, in 5, Buck-street, Camden Town. Deceased's mother was staying at Firle. As deceased did not come home on the Friday his wife stayed up all night for him. On Saturday witness went to deceased's place of business, but he had not been to work on Friday. Witness put the matter in the hands of the police, and early that day witness had received notice of the finding of the body. Deceased had been worried by the heat. He had been somewhat despondent lately on account of not being able to work because of the heat. Deceased was in no financial difficulties, and had never threatened to commit suicide. He had only been married six months, and was not in the habit of frequenting race meetings.—Thomas King, labourer, living at No. 5, Greenwall, Lewes, said on the previous morning, about half-past six, he saw the body in the water just above Hamsey Locks. Witness sent for P.C. Curtis. Witness assisted in getting the body out of the water. The body was afterwards taken by the police in a boat to the mortuary.—P.C. Curtis said early the previous morning he was sent for by the last witness. He went to the spot where the body was found and helped to get it out. Witness searched the body and found a watch, a purse containing a half crown, a pocket handkerchief, a knife, a bunch of keys, and an envelope with his name on it.—The Coroner having briefly summed up, the jury returned a verdict of "Found Drowned."

Sussex Agricultural Express, 18 August 1899, p. 4