Coroner’s Inquests 1811 Cases
There were 13 cases in 1811
Something strange appears to have occurred at Codford, where a sailor and his wife, travelling from Bristol to London, lost their baby, an unnamed infant, through convulsions. For some reason, they were encouraged with a present of money to depart this village and bear their burden onwards. The poor mother, in the heat of the summer, carried her now disgusting load to Wilton, where, purely by chance, she called at the house of the county Coroner, who promptly had an inquest arranged. But, were these other parishes avoiding the expense of burial of a stranger?
There are also some quotes from the Assizes trial of James Tucker for the murder of his wife Ann
Jeffery, James – Wilton
Tucker, Ann – Bradford on Avon
Gray, William – Tisbury
Unknown infant – Hindon
Gee, John – Salisbury
Fry, John – Harnham
Unknown infant – Wilton
Sheppard, William – Durrington
Northover, William – Fovant
Dibden, James – Branshaw
Moore, William – Wilton
Yeatman, James – Wilton
White, Charles – Salisbury
Jeffery, male 1811 March 25th Wilton
A melancholy circumstance occurred on Friday at Wilton. A fine boy, about seven years old, son of Charles Jeffery, of Burden’s-Ball, being at a day-school in Wilton, in the momentary absence of the school-mistress went so close to the fire that the flame caught his clothes, and he was so miserably burnt that he died on the following morning.
Jeffrey, James 1811 April 8th South Newton
The following inquests have been lately held by Mr Whitmarsh, one of the Coroners for this county.
At South Newton, on James Jeffrey, who was burnt to death (as before stated) by his pinafore catching fire.
I am assuming that this is the same person, and I cannot distinguish where exactly it happened, but assume it must be South Newton school.
Tucker, Ann 1811 March 25th Bradford on Avon
An Inquest was held at Bradford, on Monday last, on view of the body of Ann Tucker, the wife of Samuel Tucker, when a verdict was returned of wilful murder, against the husband, who is committed to the county gaol, for Trial at the next Assizes.
Quotes from Assizes Trial.
Assizes Trial 1811 August 5th
On Wednesday James Tucker was tried for the wilful murder of Ann Tucker, his wife, by starving and ill-treating her, in the parish of Bradford. The prisoner was a weaver in the cloathing manufactory, and some years since married the deceased, who was a widow with three children, and about 14 years older than himself. She had some property, with which he purchased a house in the parish of Bradford, about a quarter of a mile from the town, where they resided. Tucker appears to have formed a disgraceful connection with a female whom it is not necessary to name, and it is evident that he had long resolved on the murder of its wife.
The first act to prove this intention was his confining her to her bed-room on the 1st of January, and refusing her food sufficient to support her. She was confined in this room upwards of two months, the prisoner occasionally allowing her an oat cake, and water with a burnt crust in it.
In this manner he kept his wretched victim lingering on till the 6th of March, when some circumstances of her situation came to the knowledge of the neighbouring Magistrates. Mr Ferris, the overseer, went to the house with a constable, and obtained admission to the room, where he found the unhappy woman in a situation too shocking to describe, and immediately procured the attendance of a medical gentleman.
She was just able to tell him how she had been treated, and took a little wine and water, but sank and died the following day. The body was opened by the surgeon, the bones were covered with little more than skin, the flesh was wasted away, the intestines were so reduced that they might be held in the hand; the heart was become very small, and there was scarcely a tea-cup full of blood in her whole body.
The accused was found Guilty of Murder, and was hanged.
Gray, William 1811 April 8th Tisbury
The following inquests have been lately held by Mr Whitmarsh, one of the Coroners for this county.
At Tisbury, on the body of Wm. Gray, who was killed by an ash tree falling on him whilst at work.
Unknown infant 1811 April 8th Hindon
The following inquests have been lately held by Mr Whitmarsh, one of the Coroners for this county.
At Hindon, on an infant, who being left with another child in a room, was burnt to death by its clothet catching fire. Verdict, “Accidental Death.”
Gee, John 1811 April 22nd Salisbury
On Thursday se’nnight, Mr Whitmarch, one of the Coroners for this county, took an inquest on the body of John Gee, in consequence of his having died a prisoner in Fisherton Gaol. Verdict, “Visitation of God.”
Fry, John 1811 April 22nd Harnham
On Tuesday, as Joseph Fey, bricklayer, of Pitton, near this city, was at work with two sons, at East Harnham, in pulling down a wall, a melancholy accident occurred. The father observed the wall to give way, and called to his sons to run; one of them escaped the danger, but the wall suddenly fell on the other (John Fry, a youth of about 19), and crushed him so much that he expired immediately. Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest on the body on Wednesday; verdict, “Accidental Death.”
Unknown infant 1811 June 17th Wilton
On Thursday, Mr Whitmarsh, one of the Coroners for this county, took an inquest at Wilton, on the body of an infant, which was brought to him dead in the arms of its mother, the wife of a sailor.
It appeared that the parties were travelling from Bristol towards London, and had slept at the George Inn, at Codford, where the child was seized with convulsions, and expired.
The distressed parents were very humanely treated at the inn; but from some misapprehension, instead of being advised to stay until the Coroner could be called in, they were hurried away, with a present of two shillings, to proceed on their journey, the woman carrying the corpse of her child. They shortly after met a gentleman, who commiserated their situation, and made them a small present, but still they were urged to proceed, until their arrival at Wilton, when, from the infant having died in convulsions, and the heat of the weather, the wretched mother was compelled to beg that she might be relieved from her burthen, and accidentally called at Mr Whitmarsh’s for that purpose. The Jury having given the verdict, “Died by the Visitation of God,” the body was interred in Wilton Churchyard.
Sheppard, William 1811 June 17th Durrington
On Saturday Mr Whitmarsh took another inquest on the body of William Sheppard, servant to Mr Clift, at Durrington, who being employed to hold his master’s horse, had fastened the halter round his hand, and the horse running away, the lad was dragged across the field till he was so shockingly bruised that he lived only a few minutes after the accident. Verdict, “Killed by a horse.”
Northover, William 1811 June 24th Fovant
On Tuesday the 11th inst., as William Northover, a lad in the service of Mr Rowden, of Fovant, was at plough, the horses took fright, ran away, and the point of the plough share entered his loins. He was brought to the Salisbury Infirmary, where he languished till the following Thursday, and then expired. On Saturday, Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest on the body; verdict, “Accidental Death.”
Dibden, James 1811 August 5th Bramshaw
Mr Whitmarsh, one of the Coroners for this county, took an inquest on Monday at Bramshaw, on the body of James Dibden, a boy about four years old, who was killed by a cart going over his loins – he lived only ten minutes after the accident. Verdict, “Accidentally killed.
Moore, William 1811 August 5th Wilton
Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest on Monday last, at Ditchampton, on the body of William Moore, who was found dead in his bed on Sunday morning. Verdict, “Visitation of God.”
Yeatman, James 1811 December 9th Wilton
On Thursday last, Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest, at Wilton, on the body of James Yeatman, who hung himself the day before in Mr Seagrim’s Malt-house. Verdict, “Lunacy.”
White, Charles 1811 December 9th Salisbury
Mr Whitmarsh took an inquest on Friday, at the Salisbury Infirmary, on the body of Charles White, who was killed by the kick of a horse. Verdict, “Accidental Death.”
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Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 