George Williams McBriety

He was living when he relinquished administership of his father's will on Jan 10 1900 but had died before the taking of the 1900 census where his wife is listed as widowed. He was a photographer in Salisbury - a photo of his shop on Main Street c1872 exists at the Nabb Center. His death certificate indicates his occupation as a tin smith. He became estranged from his family, perhaps due to alcoholism as seen in his obituary:

DEATH OF GEORGE McBRIETY Drowned in the Wicomico River Saturday Night, The remains of Geo. McBriety were taken from the Wicomico river Monday afternoon to the shop of Undertaker Geo. C. Hill and prepared for burial, which followed Tuesday afternoon in the family burial grounds on the old McBriety homeplace a mile and a half down the river. Rev. J. S. Smith, pastor of the Methodist Protestant church, read the burial service at the grave.

McBriety was last seen alive Saturday night between 11 and 12 o'clock in Salisbury when he started for his home down the river in a bateau, having with him some provisions which he had purchased from the grocers. He had been drinking during the evening and had a quantity of rum with him when he left the Salisbury wharf.

Sunday an empty bateau, identified as that of McBriety's, was found floating on the river and the impression was at once made that McBriety had fallen overboard and been drowned. Search was made for the missing man. Monday afternoon Mr. Ernest McBriety, a son, discovered the remains on a flat on the south side of the river about a mile from town. It is evident that McBriety had rowed his boat into the shore believing he was at his landing place which is a half mile further down the river. When found the feet and legs were across a fallen tree, the body was inclining on a dense undergrowth of bushes and the head and upper chest were in water so shallow that the mouth and nose were scarcely sub merged. The theory is that when McBriety rowed ashore he stepped out and sat down upon the reclining tree and his boat drifted away. In a little while, he fell asleep and falling backwards met death unconsciously in the manner above described.

Justice Wm. A. Trader held an inquest Monday afternoon. The jury was composed of Messers. C.E. Harper, W.E. Dorman, W. L. Brewtngton, B. Frank Kennerly, E. B. Twilley, Chas. N. Bennett, Geo. R, Collier, W. T. Godfrey, Samuel P. Maddox, Geo. H. Riall, E.B. Hitch and James Crouch. Their verdict was "Accidental drowning." The deceased was the only child of the late Joshua McBriety with whom he resided until the death of the latter several months ago. Since then he has lived at the old home alone. A widow, two sons, Messrs. Purnell and Ernest McBriety, and three daughters, Mrs. Geo. W. Taylor and Miss Mary McBriety of this city, and Mrs. Blanks of Virginia, survive him. He had several years been separated from his family who are much respected in Salisbury. The decease had been an employee of the Dorman & Smyth Hardware Co. for several years. He was especially gifted in the mechanics, but a life of dissipation sadly affected the usefulness of his endowments. (Salisbury Advertiser, May 5 1900, Page 1)

George married Florence Avalena Long in 1872. (Florence Avalena Long was born on 07 Jun 1854 in MD, died on 14 Jun 1924 in Wicomico Co., MD and was buried about 17 Jun 1924 in Parsons Cemetery, Salisbury, Wicomico Co., MD.)