Coroner’s Inquests 1802 cases
There were 13 cases in 1802
Macklin, James -Milstone
Staples, two infants – Damerham
Collins, Samuel – Winterslow
Bailey, William – Downton
Lisbett, William – Plaitford
Dear, Mary – Whiteparish
Asher, Harry – Charlton
Foyle, James – Tisbury
Barnes, Alexander – Salisbury
Britton, Hannah – Shrewton
Shelly, George – Downton
Willis, James – Crowstone
Jeffrey, James – Ansty
Macklin, James 1802 February 1st Milstone
The reprehensible practice of leaving fire-arms loaded, and the still more reprehensible one of wantonly presenting them, and pulling the trigger, without previously ascertaining that they are not loaded, has recently occasioned many a melancholy catastrophe, but none more distressing than the following.
Mr Macklin, of Milstone, imprudently left a loaded gun in the room where his family was; Mrs Macklin, concluding that he had of course drawn the charge, incautiously took up the gun; James Milston, a youth of thirteen years of age, was sitting on the same chair with his sister; Mrs M. in sport pointed the gun at him, and repeatedly snapped the lock; it went off and lodged the contents in the body of her own son! The unfortunate boy expired in about three hours after. The girl was not hurt.
Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest on the body on Wednesday. The Jury returned a verdict of, “Accidental Death.”
Staples, two infants 1802 February 8th Damerham
On Monday last Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest at Damerham, on the bodies of two infants found in the river. It appeared in evidence that Susanna Staples, a young unmarried woman, of the same place, was the mother, but that the children were still-born, which the Jury certified with their verdict.
Collins, Samuel 1802 February 22nd Winterslow
On Monday se’nnight Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest at Winterslow, on view of the body of Samuel Collins, of the same place, who was found dead. The deceased was a very old man, and subject to fits; as there were no marks of violence, the jury returned a verdict, “Died by the Visitation of God.”
Bailey, William 1802 February 22nd Downton
On Monday last Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest at Downton, on view of the body of William Bailey, a poor man of that place, who was found dead. As no marks of violence appeared, the jury returned a verdict, “Died by the Visitation of God.”
Lisbett, William 1802 March 15th Plaitford
On Wednesday last Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest at Plaitford, on view of the body of William Lisbett, a lad about twelve years of age, there lying dead. He was driving his master’s waggon, but unfortunately riding on the shafts, fell under the wheels, and was killed on the spot. The Jury returned a Verdict, “Accidental Death.”
Dear, Mary 1802 June 28th Whiteparish
On Saturday the 19th inst., Mr Whitmarsh, one of the coroners for this county, took an inquest at Whiteparish, on the body of Mary Dear, a poor old woman, who lived alone, and was found dead in her cottage on the preceding day, after having been for some time in a feeble state, the recollection of which, on her not appearing abroad, occasioned the neighbours to visit the house, when she was found as above, and from appearances had been dead two or three days. Verdict, “Died by the Visitation of God.”
Asher, Harry 1802 June 28th Charlton
On Sunday Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest on the body of Harry Asher, of Charlton (servant to Mr Rooke, of Witherington), on which the following circumstances were related.
Asher, on the preceding day, had driven his master’s waggon to Salisbury, where he met an acquaintance, Benjamin Edmunds, waggoner to Mr Kervil, of Redlynch, who, on their return, persuaded Asher to ride in his waggon, in which was a cask of brandy, and invited him to drink therefrom, by means of a vegetable tube, which he did to such excess, that when he reached home he was in a state of complete stupefaction, and being laid on some straw in an out-house, was afterwards found dead.
A woman who rode in the waggon related these circumstances; and on guaging the cask it appeared that two quarts of brandy had been drunk from it, though she acknowledged that she had drunk some. Edmunds was also called before the coroner, and strictly interrogated; but he appeared so little affected by the unhappy consequences of his dishonest imprudence, that he would scarcely admit he had done wrong in giving away the liquor entrusted to his care; the coroner therefore recommended that he should be prosecuted as an example to others.
Asher had before been esteemed an honest, sober, and diligent servant; he has left a widow and four children to lament his loss.
Foyle, James 1802 July 19th Tisbury
Last week Mr Whitmarsh, one of the Coroners for this county, took an inquest, at Tisbury, on the body of James Foyle, who fell under the wheels of his master’s waggon, and was killed. The Jury returned a Verdict of, “Accidental Death.”
Barnes, Alexander 1802 July 19th Salisbury
On Wednesday last Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest at Fisherton, on the body of Alexander Barnes, there lying dead. Owing to the unhappy life led by the deceased and his wife, and from some expressions used by the latter the evening before, an enquiry was instituted, but from the evidence given by the parish surgeon, the Jury returned a verdict of, “Visitation of God.”
Britton, Hannah 1802 July 19th Shrewton
On Thursday last Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest at Shrewton, on the body of Hannah Britton. The deceased had been in a low desponding way for some time past, but escaped the vigilance of those employed to watch her, and hung herself. Verdict, “Lunacy.”
Shelly, George 1802 August 2nd Downton
On Tuesday Mr Whitmarsh, one of the Coroners of this county, took an inquest at Downton, on the body of Geo. Shelly, there lying dead. It appeared on evidence that the deceased had received an injury by falling from his master’s horse. The Jury returned a Verdict, “Accidental Death.”
Willis, James 1802 August 2nd Crowstone
On Thursday Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest at Crowstone, on the body of James Willis, who was found dead in his garden, supposed from an apoplexy. The Jury returned a Verdict, “Visitation of God.”
I have been unable to locate the place name Crowstone.
Jeffrey, James 1802 August 30th Ansty
On Wednesday last Mr Whitmarsh, one of the Coroners for this county, took an inquest at Ansty, on view of the body of James Jeffrey, about 18 years of age, who unfortunately fell under the wheels of his master’s timber-carriage, and was killed on the spot. The Jury returned a Verdict of, “Accidental Death.”
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Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 