Is there a way I can find out HOW someone died at sea?

Question

My 3x great grandfather (Rhodes-11549) died at sea on 28 Oct 1856. Is there any way I can find out what he was doing at sea and/or how he died?

He and his family had earlier immigrated to the United States from England (1843).

Comments

If you can find the passenger log of the ship on which he died, it may state the cause of death.  (It is unlikely to say why he was there, but might give an occupation which could be a clue.)

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Unfortunate, I didn't know the ship he was on. As for occupation, he was a worsted weaver in England and became a farmer in the U.S. I thought maybe he went back to England to bring other relatives. ‍♀️

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How is it you know he died at sea?

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On his mother's gravestone. You can see on his page.

Answer 1

It might be that this is mentioned in the church book of his home parish,

I am not familiar with english registry offices. If somebody dies on a German ship outside the Coast line that will be registered in the registry office Berlin I. But not before 1874.

I don't know if the UK has a central registry office for that cases and since when. Or if it was a US ship if the USA have.

Answer 2

I suggest that you check the newspapers in and around the town where he lived.  You might find a death notice that is informative or an obituary (although in my experience obituaries often do not state the cause of death.)