1817

Coroner’s Inquests 1817 cases

There were 14 cases in 1817.

Johnson, James – Salisbury

Messiter, Francis – Chippenham

Kelly, George – Laverstock

Whitmarsh, Mary – Kingston Deverill

Unknown male – Stapleford

Brennard, Richard – Mere

Samway, male – Shrewton

Nash, James – Harnham

Scott, Samuel – Melksham

Ford, Ann Donhead – St Mary

Hillcock, Robert – Salisbury

Coster, George – Newton Toney

Unknown – Chippenham

Holmes, George – Heytesbury

Johnson, James 1817 January 6^th Salisbury

On Saturday an inquest was held by Mr Whitmarsh, on the body of James Johnson, a boy only eight years old, who on the 20^th of December was left alone in his mother’s house, where by some means his clothes caught fire, and his chest, arms, &c., were dreadfully burnt. He was brought to our Infirmary, where he lingered in extreme agony till Friday evening last.

It was not stated where the incident took place.

Messiter, Francis 1817 January 20^th Chippenham

On Sunday the 5^th instant, Mr Francis Messiter, of Biddestone, near Chippenham (son of N. Messiter, Esq., banker of Frome) on his way home from Marshfield (where he had dined) accidentally fell from his horse at about nine o’clock in the evening, and unfortunately lay in the road until seven the next morning, when he was discovered senseless; he was conveyed home, but never spoke afterwards, and died on the 10^th instant, leaving a disconsolate widow! Mr M. was in the prime of life, and was a member of the Frome yeomanry cavalry.

There was no report of an inquest for this death.

Kelly, George 1817 January 20^th Laverstock

An inquest was held last Monday by Mr Whitmarsh, on the body of George Kelly, a boy about three years old, who was burnt to death in the hamlet of Ford, near this city. The child, it appeared, had followed his mother into the garden, but complaining of his hands being cold, she desired him to return into the house and warm them. In less than five minutes she heard the boy cry, and on running into the house found him in a blaze of fire. He was immediately removed to our Infirmary, where every assistance was given, but he survived only a few hours. Verdict, “Accidentally burnt to death.”

Whitmarsh, Mary 1817 January 20^th Kingston Deverill

Mr Whitmarsh held an inquest last Tuesday, at Kingston Deverill, on the body of Mary Whitmarsh, who was found dead in her bed. She had been in a very infirm state of health for some time past; and no marks of violence appearing on her body, the jury returned a verdict, “Died by the visitation of God.”

Unknown male 1817 January 20^th Stapleford

Mr Whitmarsh held an inquest last Wednesday at Stapleford, on the body of an unknown man, who on the Sunday preceding had solicited relief from an overseer of that parish; he appeared in a weak state, and was humanely relieved; after which he strolled to a barn, and was found there next morning in a dying state. The Jury returned a verdict of “Found Dead,” there being no marks of violence on his body.

Brennard, Richard 1817 May 12^th Mere

An inquest was held by Mr Whitmarsh on Saturday the 3d inst., at Mere, upon the body of Richard Brennard, who was discovered suspended from a beam in Mr Jupp’s factory at Mere. It appeared that the wretched man, previously to hanging himself, had cut his throat, his head being nearly severed from his body. Various proofs of the mental derangement of the deceased being adduced, before the Jury, a verdict of his insanity was accordingly returned by them.

Samway, male 1817 May 12^th Shrewton

Mr Whitmarsh held an inquest on Monday the 5^th, at the sign of the Bustard on the Devizes Plain, upon the body of an old man, named Samway, who died suddenly, having been previously in a dropsical state. Verdict, “Died by the visitation of God.”

Nash, James 1817 June 9^th Harnham

An inquest was held by Mr Whitmarsh on Monday last, at West Harnham, near this city, upon the body of James Nash, a child three years old, who had fallen into the water at the tucking-mill near to his father’s house. The child was seen playing by the water’s side a short time previous to his being found drowned. Verdict, “Accidentally drowned.”

Scott, Samuel 1817 June 30^th Melksham

On Wednesday an inquest was held at Broughton, near Melksham, by W. Clare, Esq., one of his Majesty’s Coroners of this county, on the body of Samuel Scott, aged 24, who died the preceding day, immediately after fighting a pitched battle, with a young man of the name of Richards. They had been instigated by some persons in the neighbourhood, to adopt this disgraceful mode of settling a trifling dispute, which had originated several days before, and were compelled by the said persons, who had staked wagers on the result, to prolong the combat, after each had expressed a desire to desist. The Jury returned a verdict of Manslaughter against Richards, it appearing upon an examination of the body, by Messrs. Hulbert and King, surgeons of Melksham, that the fatal event was occasioned by a blow on the left side of the neck; and the principal promoters have been since severally bound over to answer for their conduct at the ensuing assizes for the county.

I was not able to discern what sentence Thomas Richards received for this event, though he was tried at the assizes of July 1817.

Ford, Ann 1817 July 7^th Donhead St Mary

An inquest was held on Thursday last by Mr Whitmarsh, at Donhead St Mary, on the body of Ann Ford, who was found dead in her chair on the preceding morning, at the house of her son-in-law. It appeared that she had been in an infirm state for some time past, and no marks of violence appearing on her body, the Jury returned a verdict, “Died by the visitation of God.”

Hillcock, Robert 1817 September 15^th Salisbury

On Wednesday evening last a young man, named Robert Hillcock, a bricklayer’s labourer, was unfortunately killed, by the falling in of a newly made oven (belonging to Mr Chalk, baker, in Brown-street), whilst he was finishing some work in the inside. Surgical assistance was immediately rendered to him, but in vain. The fatal accident occurred through the insecurity of a wall which formed part of the oven. A coroner’s inquest was held next day on the body, and a verdict of “Accidental Death” returned by the Jury.

Coster, George 1817 October 6^th Newton Toney

Mr Whitmarsh held an inquest on Friday last, at Newtontoney, on the body of George Coster, who, whilst dragging a waggon out of a yard, drove against a post, when he was struck in the head by one of the shafts of the waggon, and killed on the spot. Verdict, “Accidentally killed.”

Unknown 1817 October 27^th Chippenham

Three coroner’s inquests have been lately taken in the neighbourhood of Chippenham within a very few days. One on a fine girl about 12 years of age, to whom oxalic acid, prepared for cleaning boot-tops, had been given in mistake for salts; another on a man found drowned in a pond; and another on a woman who was found dead in her bed.

Holmes, George 1817 December 15^th Heytesbury

On Monday last an inquest was held at Heytesbury, by William Clare, Esq., coroner, on the body of George Holmes, a lad 12 years of age, whose death was occasioned by his becoming entangled in some machinery. It appeared in evidence that this melancholy accident happened in consequence of the deceased getting to play with some other boys, whilst the foreman was engaged in another part of the factory. Verdict, “Accidental Death.”

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