Sudden Deaths and Inquests from the Longtown area
From the Carlisle Journal (CJ) and Carlisle Patriot (CP) Newspapers
1840-42
February 8th 1840 CP
An inquest was held on the 3rd inst before Mr Carrick, coroner, at Milhill, near Springfield, on the body of John Birrell, aged 11 years. On the preceding day the unfortunate boy was on his return from school at Allinson’s Bank, and on passing Guards Mill went into the mill, where he was left by the servants whilst they were dining. In a short time, the mill was observed to stop, which induced the men to go and ascertain the cause, when they found the deceased jambed in between the wheel and the wall, a space of five inches. He was of course quite dead, his chest was forced in, his bowels torn, and one of his legs and thighs fractured in several places.
Verdict - accidental death.
March 7th 1840 CP
At Boltonfell end, parish of Stapleton, on the 29th ult on view of the body of Ann Elliot, widow, who was burnt to death in her own house during the absence of her daughter.
Verdict - accidental death.
The deceased was found with her body reclining upon a dresser, enveloped in flames, and upon being placed in a chair, expired in a few minutes.
March 21st 1840 CP
An inquest was held at the house of Joseph Richardson, Hound and Hare, Botchergate, in this city, on Monday last, on the body of Samuel Clair, aged 2 years and 8 months, who had died of smallpox on the Saturday previous.
(The mother, a widow of a seaman, had travelled from Edinburgh to Glasgow, to see her son, a boot and shoe maker, only to find he had moved to Newcastle. She set off for Newcastle, suffering from dropsical complaints and the itch, but only got as far as Gretna before her feet “burst” and she could go no further.
At Gretna, she was taken to the house of Mr Ferguson, where the farmer’s wife treated her kindly; when Mr Ferguson returned, he took her in a wheelbarrow to the house of the Rev Roddick. The Rev Roddick, far from showing any Christian charity, uttered some oaths, broke the wheelbarrow and told them to be gone. She was taken to various houses, eventually one woman allowed her to sleep on the floor. In the morning the woman gave her a staff to help her on her way, and tied the child, already ailing, on her back. Mrs Clair walked as far as Longtown, where the child fell off her back. When she got as far as Longtown Bridge, she could go no further -eventually a shoemaker there gave her 3d to lodge at John Forster’s.
William Nicholson, saddler, the overseer of the township, called for the purpose of relieving her, as did Mr John Earl, surgeon, who said the child had the itch. Next day, she wished to proceed to Newcastle, but discovered the child Samuel had got smallpox. Nicholson called and arranged for her to be sent to Carlisle in a cart. The child, Samuel Clair, died in the House of Recovery at Carlisle. In his defence, William Nicholson said that the woman wished to proceed to Newcastle, that there was a House of Recovery at Carlisle where the child could be treated, and that the lodging house keeper had wished to be rid of the woman.
Inquest verdict - that the child Samuel Clair had died from natural causes, but that Mr Nicholson, the overseer of Longtown, and Mr Earl, the surgeon, were highly censurable, for their conduct in allowing the mother and child to be removed in the deplorable state of health in which they were. The jury strongly recommended the case to the attention of the board of Guardians, as it was their opinion that the removal was for the sole purpose of throwing the expense upon the Carlisle Union.
March 21st 1840 CP
Inquest at Barrocks Town, near Longtown, on the 15th inst, on John Moffatt, aged 13 years, who was killed by a young horse belonging to his master, Mr Lattimer.
Verdict - accidental death . Deodand - one shilling.
May 2nd 1840 CP
Inquest at Longtown on the 29th ult, on the body of Eleanor Story, daughter of Jane Scott, widow, aged 27 years, who on the preceding day had committed suicide by hanging herself from a nail inside of their dwelling room door. The mother of the deceased had been confined by sickness to her bed for several years, and so reduced in she that she is unable to render herself any assistance.
It appeared from her statement that her daughter Jane took breakfast between 7 and 8, after which witness fell asleep for a few minutes; when she awoke, she saw her daughter suspended as before described. She was not able to rise from her bed, and although she continued to call with all her strength, no one came to her assistance until between 11 and 12.
It had been rumoured that the deceased had been driven to commit, the fatal act by the want of sufficient necessaries - that the officers of the union had refused to grant her relief. This rumour proved to be quite unfounded, for Mrs Scott stated that the officers had never refused any application, and that she and her daughter were able to live comfortably with the allowance from the parish and the earnings of the latter.
Verdict - temporary insanity.
May 23rd 1840 CP
At Longtown on the 14th inst on the body of Barbara Robinson, aged 14 years. The evidence of the witnesses, examined, proved that deceased was playing with her school companions about a fortnight previous to her death, when she fell and bruised her knee.
A medical man was called in, who attended her until the 9th, when the child’s parents, being dissatisfied with his treatment of the case, called in another surgeon, at which time she was suffering from tetanus, or lock-jaw, of which she died on the 13th. The evidence of the first medical man was very unsatisfactory in itself, and was fully contradicted by other witnesses, as to the treatment adopted by him... the jury after a short consultation, returned a verdict of accidental death, and added that much blame was attached to the medical man above referred to.
July 25th 1840 CP
An Inquest was held before Mr Carrick, coroner at Carwhinlay Cottage near Longtown, on the 19th inst, on the body of William Plenderleath, aged 36 years, who committed suicide on the preceding day by swallowing a large dose of laudanum.
Deceased was a saddler at Newcastleton in Scotland, and having fallen short of work, had gone into Northumberland about 3 weeks ago to mow. It appears he met with little employment. On Friday he called at his sisters house, who with her husband John Little, are cottagers on Sir James Grahams estate, and complained to having less money than when he left home.
In the course of the day, he went to Longtown, where he purchased, at the shop of Mr Robert Earl, druggist, two and a half ounces of laudanum, which it is supposed he had taken and vomited. On the following day, he again called at Mr Earl’s shop, and purchased three and a half ounces more of the same poison, and then returned to his sister’s house... he lingered until 12 o’clock at night, when he expired.
Verdict - temporary insanity. The unfortunate man has left a widow and family of young children.
October 10th 1840 CP
Inquest on the 4th inst at Sandysike House in the parish of Bewcastle, on the body of a child named Walter, the son of Hector Baty, whose clothes had accidentally caught fire on the previous Thursday, during the temporary absence of his mother, by which he was so much burned that he died on the following day. Verdict accordingly.
October 10th 1840 CP
Inquest on the 6th at Haggbeck, Stapleton, on the body of Mary Routledge, aged 53, who whilst loading a cart with corn in a field of Mr Robert Richardson of Troughead, accidentally fell therefrom, and died instantly.
Verdict - accidental death.
February 20th 1841 CP
An inquest was held before Mr Carrick, coroner, on the 11th inst at Roughland Head, in the chapelry of Nichol Forest, on the body of Isaac Nicholson, aged 75 years.
The deceased resided at Gretna Green, but for a week previous to his death had been on a visit to his daughter in Nichol Forest; she was called in to see a neighbour who was taken suddenly ill, leaving her father in the house - on her return he was missing, and on search being made, he was found lying in the byer, quite dead. He had no marks of violence upon his body.
Verdict - died by the visitation of God.
April 24th 1841 CP
Child Murder
John Hogg of Pateshill, parish of Irthington, farmer, lived with his daughter Mary and grand-daughter named Jane, her illegitimate daughter, whose age is upwards of 30.
On Saturday morning last, the farmer who had been in a declining state of health for a considerable time, became much worse, and the neighbours were called in... the old man shortly expired. During the time the neighbours were in the house, Jane Hogg was in a bed in a room upstairs... she was heard to moan several times during the morning between six and nine o’clock, and her mother remained with her the principal part of that time.
Nothing occurred to attract the particular attention of those downstairs, but it being reported that Jane was pregnant, suspicion arose that she had bore a child, and by Monday (the day of John Hogg’s funeral) it was pretty freely talked about.
On Monday afternoon, the report was made known to Mr Carrick, the coroner... he accordingly proceeded to Pateshill, accompanied by Mr Graham, surgeon of Brampton... Mr Graham soon satisfied himself by the most unequivocal proofs that Jane had been very recently delivered... after considerable delay, Mary said that she would produce the body if Mr Graham and Mr Carrick would retire into another room.
She accordingly brought the body into the room, and laid it upon a chair. It was without any covering - there were very severe contused bruises upon the forehead, nose and mouth, as if they had been struck with violence against a wall, and a piece of tape was tied round its neck. It was evident that the presence of this ligature had escaped Mary’s attention, for as soon as it was noticed she made a snatch to tear it away...
A post mortem examination was made by Messrs Graham and Armstrong, surgeons, who proved that the child had been born with life and had died from strangulation. After an investigation of several hours, the jury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against Jane and Mary Hogg - the latter was committed to gaol, and Jane will be removed as soon as she is sufficiently recovered to undertake the journey.
(See Law and Order 1840-42 for witnesses at the trial)
May 15th 1841 CP
Inquest at Longtown on the 9th inst on the body of William Johnson, aged 31 years, who died suddenly at the house of his brother-in-law, Mr Jos. Simonds.
Verdict - natural death.
September 18th 1841 CP
Inquest on the 3rd inst at Hethersgill, Kirklinton, on the body of Thomas Graham, aged 4 years, whose death was occasioned by burning - his clothes having accidentally taken fire during the temporary absence of his mother.
September 25th 1841 CP
Inquest on the 12th inst at Longtown Moor on the body of Elizabeth Huggan, aged 64 years. Deceased and her husband had been, on the 1st inst, on a visit to a sister residing beyond Longtown in a cart. On their return, near Springfield, the mare stepped suddenly forward, and threw deceased into the cart upon the back part of her head, and the injuries she sustained caused her death.
Verdict - accidental death.
November 27th 1841 CP
Inquest at Longtown on the 25th inst on the body of Eleanor Hasty, aged 83, whose death was occasioned by falling downstairs.
Verdict - accidental death.
December 4th 1841 CP
On Saturday last, Mrs Jane Shore was found dead in bed, having been in the enjoyment of tolerably good health the previous evening. The deceased was 62 years of age and resided in the porters lodge at Netherby.
Verdict - natural death.
January 15th 1842 CP
Inquest - On Monday last on the body of an illegitimate child of Eleanor Scott of Longtown. The body had been buried upwards of a week, and was exhumed by direction of the coroner.
It was born on Friday week in the presence of Mr Earl, surgeon, and two or three neighbours. A rumour shortly got afloat that it had been put to death on account of its malformation, and the report gained confirmation by the medical man most imprudently stating to the registrar that it was born with life, and would have lived had he not smothered it under the bed clothes.
The body, on being shown to the jury presented a most remarkable specimen; a large tumour of the size and shape of its head was attached to the back part thereof, consisting of the scalp distended by a pint and a half of bloody serum, giving the child all the appearance of having two heads.
Two medical men who made a post mortem examination proved that it had not been born with life, and it could not with any possibility have lived by respiration. Mr Earl in an explanation of his statement said it was intended as a hoax upon the Registrar, and denied having used any violence to the child. In this he was confirmed by those present at the birth.
Verdict - stillborn.
January 15th 1842 CP
Inquest at Shadwell Crooks, in the parish of Kirkandrews on Esk, on the body of Ann, the wife of William Johnston, farmer, who was found in a state of insensibility by her family on their return from the stack yard.
Verdict - natural death.
March 19th 1842 CP
Inquest at Kinkery Hill in the parish of Bewcastle, on view of the body of Benjamin Telford, aged 15 years. The deceased was a collier in Mr Goodfellows pit’s, and on the preceding Friday having sent a basket of coal up the shaft was waiting for the return basket when a wheel fell from one of the trams and hit him upon the head, thereby causing a fracture of the skull of which he died in a few days.
Verdict - accidental death.
June 25th 1842 CP
Inquest at Rosetrees, Kirkandrews on Esk, on the body of a child of Elizabeth Hadden, whose birth had been concealed. The child was much decomposed, and as far as could be ascertained, had been still born.
Verdict - found dead
July 23rd 1842 CP
Inquest on the 21st inst at Bogburn, Kirkandrews on Esk, on the body of Isabella Graham, daughter of Charles Graham, blacksmith, aged 15 months, who fell into a well in the back yard and was drowned.
Verdict accordingly.
August 13th 1842 CP
Five Pound Reward
MISSING
Hudson Scott, senior, an aged man in the dress of one of the Society of Friends, left his house on the evening of the 31st ultimo, about 6 o'clock. He had on a brown coat, grey breeches and light coloured gaiters, and is afflicted with considerable deafness. He uses a stick and leans forward when walking.
Whoever will give such information respecting him as will lead to his discovery shall receive the above REWARD on application to: Hudson Scott jun, 11, English Street, Carlisle.
August 20th 1842 CP
An inquest was held on Friday last by Mr Carrick, coroner, at the house of Mr Gibbons, of Mossband, near the Iron Bridge over the Esk, on the body of Mr Hudson Scott, senior, who was last week advertised in our columns as missing, and a verdict of “Found Dead” recorded.
It seems that the deceased had gone in that direction on the night he was first missing, after having been observed at a late hour in the neighbourhood of Stanwix, and having lost his way, had fallen from exhaustion on Rosetrees Moss, about a quarter of a mile from Mr Gibbons house, where he was accidentally found by a gamekeeper in the service of Sir James Graham.
We understand Mr Scott was in his eightieth year, and had not been well for some days previous. His watch was found upon his person, his stick grasped in one hand, and the body lying as if no struggle had taken place.
September 17th 1842 CP
An inquest was held at Longtown on Tuesday last, before W Carrick, county coroner, on the body of the daughter of Francis Wardrop, blacksmith, aged 23 months, whose death was occasioned by a small quantity of spirits of hartshorn being taken into her mouth. The deceased was subject to fits, and on the day preceding while labouring under one of these attacks, her father applied a smelling bottle containing spirits of hartshorn to her nostrils, when by some accident part escaped and fell into her mouth.
Verdict - accidental death.
September 24th 1842 CP
Inquest at Longtown on Thursday on the body of Elizabeth, daughter of Jane Scott, single woman, who died suddenly on Tuesday. A report got into circulation in the town that laudanum had been administered which had caused the childs death.
It appeared however that there was no foundation whatever for the charge, and that it had originated with a worthless character, who had either misunderstood, or wickedly misstated statements made to him. He was sent for to give an account of himself, but the officers could not find him.
Verdict - natural death.
November 12th 1842 CP
On the 27th ult at Brampton, on the body of Margaret Armstrong, spinster, aged 50 years, who died very suddenly in consequence, as was stated by some of her foolish and superstitious neighbours, of a fright occasioned by the appearance of a ghost. The evidence however clearly proved the ridiculous character of the report, and the jury returned a verdict of natural death.
December 31st 1842 CP
On Wednesday week, Thomas, son of Wm McDonald of Longtown, aged 5 years, died from the effects of injuries received in consequence of his clothes catching fire. An inquest was held upon the body on Thursday week.
Verdict - accidental death.
December 31st 1842 CP
Inquest on the 26th at the Longtown workhouse, on the body of Thomas Boyd, aged seven days, who died without previous illness and unseen.
Verdict - natural death from inflammation.
December 31st 1842 CP
Inquest at Field Head, Stapleton, on the 29th, on the body of Henry Reed, husbandman, aged 35 years. The deceased was on Monday last attempting to catch a stray goose in the river Line. He waded into the water one or two steps, and was in the act of reaching forward with his stick to draw her to the side, when he slipped forward down the ledge of the rock upon which he was standing... he was carried away by the current and drowned.
Verdict - accidentally drowned.
