1827

Coroner’s Inquests 1827 cases

There were 25 cases in 1827

Nash, Robert – Devizes

Unknown infant – Salisbury

Unknown male infant – Bishopstone

Bell, Henry – Unknown

Harrison, Abraham – Wilton

Coward, James – Donhead St Mary

Harris, George – Downton

Norris, Elizabeth – Winterbourne Earls

Ingram, John -Compton Chamberlayne

Young, Henry – Salisbury

Sheppard, James – Harnham

Humphrys, Joseph – Berwick St James

Bristowe, James – Mere

Tabor, Richard – Wylye

Bungy, James – Barford St Martin

Pew, John – Burcombe

Charlton, Ann – Zeals

Ingram, Charles – Idmiston

Sims, Elizabeth – Melksham

Williams, Joseph – Plaitford

Silcock, Thomas – Trowbridge

Stokes, male – Trowbridge

Hatch, James – Plaitford

Turner, James – Shrewton

Wilkins, Daniel – Downton

Nash, Robert 1827 January 1^st Devizes

An inquest was held Saturday 30^th ult., at the Bell Inn, Devizes Green, on the body of Mr Robert Nash, of Stert Farm, near Devizes, who died suddenly at the above Inn on Thursday. It appeared that on his return from market on the preceding Thursday, the deceased called at the above Inn (where his horse had been left) and drank some beer in company with several other persons; one of whom having broken a glass, took up the pieces, and threw them under the grate, and soon afterwards left the room without paying for it. On this Mr Nash called in the landlady, and having related to the circumstances, told her, “that she should not be cheated, that he would see her paid,” or words to this effect, which he had scarcely articulated before he fell to the ground a corpse. He was a very honest and industrious man, and has left a wife and a family of young children to deplore his loss. Verdict, “Died by the Visitation of God.”

Unknown infant 1827 January 1^st Salisbury

On Tuesday last Mr Whitmarsh held an inquest at Fisherton, on the body of an infant who died suddenly whilst in bed with its mother. Reports had gone abroad that the mother had neglected and ill-used the child so much that its death was occasioned thereby. It appeared that the mother was travelling from Plymouth with three children, and had taken lodgings at Mrs Martin’s for a week; and from the evidence given by Mrs Martin, it did not appear that the child experienced any neglect or ill-treatment during the mother’s stay at her house. The Jurymen being perfectly satisfied that the infant died by the visitation of God, returned a verdict accordingly.

Unknown male infant 1827 January 29^th Bishopstone

Mr Whitmarsh held an inquest at Bishopstone, on Wednesday last, the 24^th inst., on the body of a young child, whose clothes caught fire the preceding day, during the absence of its mother (who was gone to pick up some sticks not many yards from the house); she had left only a few minutes, when her daughter found her out and said her brother’s clothes were on fire; she returned home, and found the fire had been extinguished by a neighbour, but the child was so dreadfully burnt, as to survive the accident only a few hours. Verdict, “Accidentally burnt to death.”

Bell, Henry 1827 February 26^th Unknown

Mr Whitmarsh held an inquest on Friday the 23d inst., on the body of Henry Bell, a lad about 15 years of age, who was killed in consequence of some horses running away with the waggon. The deceased, in attempting to stop them, was thrown to the ground, when the near wheels of the waggon passed over him, and killed him on the spot. Verdict, “Accidentally killed.”

Harrison, Abraham 1827 April 23^rd Wilton

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, at Wilton, on the body of Abraham Harrison, who died suddenly whilst drinking tea with his wife; he had been previously afflicted with asthma; he placed some bread before the fire to toast, and desiring his wife to see that it was not burnt, he walked to the window, and returning to sit down in a chair, he suddenly exclaimed that he was choaked. Medical advice was immediately resorted to, but he expired within a few minutes. Verdict, “Died by the Visitation of God.”

Coward, James 1827 April 23^rd Donhead St Mary

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on Friday, at Donhead St Mary, on the body of Jas. Coward, who, whilst driving a waggon in the public road in that parish, fell down, when the near fore-wheel pressed so heavily near the body of the deceased as to occasion his death in a few hours. Verdict, “Accidentally killed.”

Harris, George 1827 May 7^th Downton

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, at Downton, on Friday last, on the body of George Harris, who was found drowned the preceding Wednesday in a river of the said parish. No marks of violence appearing on the body, the Jury returned their verdict, “Found drowned, but by what means no evidence appeared before them.”

Norris, Elizabeth 1827 May 28^th Winterbourne Earls

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, a few days since, at Winterbourne Earls, on the body of Elizabeth Norris, an infant. The child had slept with its mother, and appeared in perfect health the preceding evening, but on awaking in the morning, Mrs Norris discovered it a corpse. Verdict, “Died by the Visitation of God.”

Ingram, John 1827 May 28^th Compton Chamberlayne

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on Monday last, at Compton Chamberlayne, on the body of John Ingram, who had hung himself in his own kitchen, about four o’clock that morning. The deceased had been in a desponding state for a number of years, frequently saying that he must destroy himself. Verdict, “Hung himself in a fit of insanity.”

Young, Henry 1827 May 28^th Salisbury

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, at Salisbury Infirmary, on Wednesday last, upon the body of a boy six years of age, named Henry Young, who on the preceding afternoon had got upon some trucks drawn by a horse in the street, when he was so dreadfully injured as to survive but a few hours.

Sheppard, James 1827 June 25^th Harnham

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on Thursday last, at Harnham, on the body of James Sheppard, a boy about two years old, who was found drowned in the river Avon, not many yards from his father’s house. The child had been playing in a garden close to the river, when it was supposed he fell in. Verdict, “Accidentally drowned.”

Humphrys, Joseph 1827 June 25^th Berwick St James

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, at Berwick St James, on the body of Joseph Humphrys, who was found dead in his bed; he had been ailing for some time past. Verdict, “Died by the visitation of God.”

Bristowe, James 1827 July 2^nd Mere

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on Tuesday last, at Mere, on the body of James Bristowe, who on the preceding Saturday, fell from a waggon which he was driving, when he received a severe fracture of the skull, which caused his death the following day. Verdict, “Accidentally killed.”

Tabor, Richard 1827 August 13^th Wylye

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on Wednesday last, at Wiley, on the body of Richard Tabor, who was found dead in a hay-loft in that parish; the deceased, with two of his sons, had the preceding day been reaping at Woodford, and, having finished their work, were returning home into Dorsetshire, from whence they had come. When the sons awoke in the morning, they found their father dead by their side; the deceased had been complaining the day before of a pain in his chest, accompanied with difficulty in breathing. Verdict, “Visitation of God.”

Bungy, James 1827 August 13^th Barford St Martin

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, at Barford St Martin, on Friday, on the body of James Bungy, who was found lying dead on the stairs leading to his chamber the preceding evening. The deceased was very old and infirm. Verdict, “Visitation of God.”

Pew, John 1827 October 8^th Burcombe

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on Wednesday last at Burcombe, on the body of John Pew, who was found dead in his bed that morning; he had been subject to fits, and was upwards of 77 years of age. Verdict, “Died by the visitation of God.”

Charlton, Ann 1827 October 8^th Zeals

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, at Zeals, on Friday, on the body of Ann Charlton, who, on the preceding Wednesday evening, went up stairs to make her bed, and not returning, she was called to by a man who lodged in her house, and receiving no answer, he went to her bed room, and found her lying dead across her bed; she had complained of spasms in her stomach frequently. Verdict, “Died by the Visitation of God.”

Ingram, Charles 1827 October 29^th Idmiston

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, at Idmiston, on the body of Chas. Ingram (a shepherd to Christopher Ingram, Esq., at Pottern), who was found dead in his sheep-fold. The deceased had been for years afflicted with a severe complaint; no marks of violence appearing on his body, the Jury returned a verdict, “Died by the visitation of God.”

Sims, Elizabeth 1827 October 29^th Melksham

On Tuesday last, an inquest was held at Melksham, by W. Adye, Esq., on the body of Elizabeth Sims, who was found in the canal adjoining the town on Monday evening. Some doubt having arisen respecting the circumstances under which this unfortunate female lost her life, much interest was excited amongst the inhabitants; and a very respectable and numerous company were assembled in the jury room. The deceased had lived in the capacity of a housekeeper to a tradesman of the town, with whom she had been seen walking, and by whom it was erroneously suspected that she was pregnant. Several witnesses completely removed the imputation of the tradesman’s being accessory to her death; and a dissection of the body by the medical gentlemen, afforded decided proof that she was not in a state of pregnancy. The verdict was, “Found Drowned.” The deceased was a remarkably fine young woman, about 24 years of age.

Williams, Joseph 1827 November 5^th Plaitford

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, at Plaitford, on Friday the 2d inst., on the body of Joseph Williams, who, whilst driving a chariot from Salisbury to the Shoe Inn, at Plaitford, was thrown from the box on which he was sitting, when the off-wheel of the carriage passing over his head, caused his immediate death. The deceased was in a state of intoxication at the time the accident happened, which took place on descending the hill at Wicket’s Green. Verdict, “Accidentally killed by falling from the box of a chariot whilst in a state of intoxication.”

Silcock, Thomas 1827 November 19^th Trowbridge

On Saturday an inquest was held at Trowbridge by W. Adye, Esq., coroner, on the body of Thomas Silcock, a child aged 6 years and 6 months, who on the Sunday previous accidentally caught his clothes on fire in the absence of his parents. Verdict, “Accidental.

Stokes, male 1827 November 26^th Trowbridge

An inquest was last week held at Trowbridge on the body of a child about 7 years of age, named Stokes, who on the previous morning was accidentally killed under the following circumstances. One of the dragoons stationed in the town had been cleaning his horse, and had just removed the halter from the animal’s head, when the horse rushed out of the yard, and running immediately upon the pavement, his feet slipped, and he fell upon the child, who was so severely injured that he survived but a few minutes. Verdict, “Accidental death.”

Hatch, James 1827 December 10^th Plaitford

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, at Plaitford, on Monday last, on the body of James Hatch, who, on returning from a walk, and entering his house, fell down in his kitchen, and instantly died. Verdict, “Visitation of God.”

Turner, James 1827 December 31^st Shrewton

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, at Shrewton on Tuesday last, the 25^th inst., on the body of James Turner. The deceased, after eating a hearty supper on Sunday night, retired to rest, as well in health as usual. On the following morning he was discovered a corpse. Verdict, “Visitation of God.”

Wilkins, Daniel 1827 December 31^st Downton

An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, at Downton, on Friday, upon the body of Daniel Wilkins, who was found drowned the preceding day in the river of the said place. Verdict, “Found drowned, but how or by what means no knowledge doth appear to the Jurors.”

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