1840

Coroner’s Inquests 1840 Cases

There were 93 cases in 1840, presented in six sub-pages.

There was a grouping this year of Manslaughter and Murder charges, including the deaths of James Heritage, Hannah Taylor, James Sherwood and John Underwood, whilst the case of Thomas Draper involved a loosely arranged fight lasting over two hours, in which both combatants were beat senseless before a provocative crowd of onlookers.

There was another grouping of cases this year, more inevitable, less surprising, of those instances in which boys were killed in industrial settings – including leading horses and tip-wagons during railway building operations, a scandalously common accident at the time – cases include Richard Smith, Frederick Percival, and Henry Cook who was the victim of a chaff-cutting machine.

The death of Robert Drewe was notable for his former career in the 20^th regiment of foot, wherein he happened to have been chosen as one of the men to bear the body of Napoleon to its last resting place. The teetotal movement came into being partly because of cases like that of John Webb, who drunkenly went swimming and got out of his depth whilst his father, also sodden in alcohol, stood by unaware of his son’s struggle.

Two cases of death by ignorance. Ruth Holmes was knocked over and crushed by a wagon driven by Thomas Rose, except that he was not driving, he was actually riding on the shaft and could not see most of the road. It was nice of him to pick up the dead child and place her by the roadside before driving on. Seven-year-old James Bunce was sitting innocently on the railway embankment when a hot cinder from a passing engine ignited his clothing; but, of course, this was one of too many cases of infant burning.

Ferris, Charles – Rowde

Kempston, Edward – South Marston

Bell, Maria – Marlborough

Heritage, James – Seend

Oram, Eliza – Etchlhampton

Shergold, Louisa – Great Wishford

Vincent, Sarah – Fonthill Gifford

Newman, Ann – Potterne

Giddings, Richard – Stanton St Bernard

Kempster, Jane – South Marston

Andrews, Ann – Melksham

Weeks, Elizabeth – Durrington

Curteis, Elizabeth – Hamptworth

Holdaway, James – Boscombe

Light, James – East Knoyle

Unknown female infant – Tollard Royal

Adams, John – Sherrington

Turner, William – Lydiard Tregoze

Fleming, John – Stockton

Unknown male – Steeple Langford

Skruse, Mary – Orcheston

Fulford, Henry – Downton

Drewe, Robert – Aldbourne

Smith, Richard – Wootton Bassett

Tanner, William – Chippenham

Carter, male infant – Enford

Smoker, Richard – Chilton

Webb, John – Westbury

Blake, John – Amesbury

Smith, George – Woodborough

Kite, Isaac – Tilshead

Dickox, George – Hilmarton

Theobalds, George – Wootton Bassett

Thomas, Elizabeth – Netheravon

Sheppard, Samuel – Broad Hinton

Knee, Richard – Melksham

Taylor, Hannah – Wootton Bassett

Sheppard, male – Box

Mulcock, male – Malmesbury

Underwood, John – Honeystreet

Weston, Daniel – Bishops Cannings

Deverill, James – Netherhampton

Case, Walter – Bishopstone

Giddings, Robert – All Cannings

Popejoy, John – Burbage

Unknown infant – Aldbourne

Warman, Elizabeth – Highworth

Percival, Frederick – South Marston

Hall, Elizabeth – Stratton St Margaret

Blake, George – East Grafton

Smith, John – Wootton Bassett

Gee, Elizabeth – Baydon

Witt, William – Newton Toney

Thompson, Mary – Wroughton

Draper, Thomas – Hannington

Matthews, Thomas – Collingbourne Kingston

Ives, Emma – Swallowfield

Watts, Thomas – South Marston

Everett, Edward – Chilton

Burry, Thomas – Urchfont

Unknown infant – Salisbury

Fisher, Henry – Burbage

Bray, Mrs – Collingbourne Ducis

Parham, Mary – Knook

Marshment, Mr – Salisbury

Burbige, William – Ludgershall

Bizley, Lucy – Swindon

Croome, James – Tisbury

Blagdon, Elizabeth – Market Lavington

Holmes, Ruth – Froxfield

Smart, Thomas – Lydiard Tregoze

Bunce, James – South Marston

Boyce, Emanuel – Alderbury

Verney, Mary – Marlborough

Higgins, Sarah – Mildenhall

Shelly, Simeon – Downton

Unknown male – West Tockenham

Church, Mary – Hillmarton

Dobson, male infant – Overton

King, unknown male – Whiteparish

Smith, Thomas – South Marston

Cope, Alice – Highworth

Lever, Henry – Stapleford

Burt, Henry – Fovant

Lansley, Charles – Ludgershall

Unknown male – Marlborough

Penny, Elizabeth – Winterbourne Bassett

Norris, Sarah – Froxfield

Pyke, John – Easton

Paddick, female – Winterbourne Gunner

Sherwood, James – Landford

Warren, James – Donhead St Mary

Cook, Henry – Avebury

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