Coroner’s Inquests 1807 and 1808
There were only five inquest reports this year.
Forder, William – Salisbury
Penny, Enoch – Bishopstrow
Donwoodhay, William – Downton
Matchman, John – Bishopstrow
Andrews, James – Fonthill
Forder, William 1807 July 20th Salisbury
On Thursday last, as William Forder, carter to Mr John Cusse, of Durnford, was returning home from the Earldoms, with a load of faggots, having passed through this city, he entrusted the driving of the waggon to a boy, whilst contrary to the boy’s advice, he resolved to ride on the shafts. At the turn of the road a short distance out of Castle-street, the boy observed that his unfortunate companion had been thrown from the shafts under the waggon, one of the fore wheels had passed over his thighs, which were both broken, and notwithstanding the utmost efforts of the boy, the hind wheel went over his head, and crushed it so dreadfully, that he was quite dead when taken up the instant after.
On Friday morning, Mr Whitmarsh, one of the Coroners of the county, took an inquest on the body at the Rising-Sun, Castle-Gate; verdict, “Accidental Death.” A deodand of the two wheels that went over the deceased. Forder was a young man, not more than 19 years old, and bore a good character.
Penny, Enoch 1808 June 20th Bishopsttrow
On Wednesday, as Enoch Penny, of Bapton, a boy only nine years old, was riding on the fore horse of a train, in the parish of Bishopstrow, the horses took fright, the poor boy was thrown off, and the wheels of the waggon passing over his head, he was killed on the spot.
On Thursday, Mr Clare, one of the Coroner’s for the County, took an inquest on the body, when the Jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death,” but it appearing that the father of the boy was on the waggon at the time in a state of intoxication, the Coroner fined him in the penalty of ten shillings; and the Jury awarded a deodand of five shillings for the two wheels.
Donwoodhay, William 1808 August 15th Downton
On Friday Mr Whitmarsh, the Coroner, took an inquest on the body of Wm. Donwoodhay, a lad about nine years old, who was drowned at Downton. Verdict, “Accidental Death.”
Matchman, John 1808 December 19th Bishopstrow
On Monday night last, as John Matchman, the park-keeper of Sir Hugh Smyth, at Ashton Court, near Bristol, was travelling from Bristol to Salisbury on the outside of the Portsmouth long coach, he suddenly fell from the top, at Bishopstrow, fractured his skull, and died immediately. On Thursday an inquest was taken by Mr Clare, one of the Coroners for this county, when the Jury gave a verdict of “Accidental Death.”
Andrews, James 1808 December 19th Fonthill
About ten days since, as James Andrews, game-keeper to Mr Beckford, of Fonthill, was out shooting rabbits, he handed his loaded gun to a boy, with orders to keep the lock dry; the boy threw the flap of his coat over the lock for that purpose, and it being on the cock, the gun went off, and lodged the contents in the body of the unfortunate keeper, who languished in great agony till Sunday the 11th inst., and then expired.
There was no report of an inquest.
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Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 