Drowning of Robert & Joseph Hooper of Dymock 1824 (Inquests)

by ChrisW , Monday, October 06, 2008, 22:21 (5681 days ago) @ ChrisW

Dec 6. Amongst the numerous melancholy accidents occasioned by the late floods, we are sorry to record the following fatal catastrophe. About five o'clock in the evening of Tuesday last, Mr JOSEPH HOOPER, aged 23, and his brother ROBERT, aged 18, sons of Mr YOUNGER HOOPER, a very old and respectable farmer, residing at Dymock, in this county, accompanied by a boy, were on their return with a team and a load of coal from the Forest of Dean. On reaching a part of the road at Leddington, called Windscross, they found the water very much out, and JOSEPH mounted the fore horse, his brother standing on the shafts, and the boy being on top of the load, and endeavoured in this way to pass through the current. They had not proceeded far when one of the wheels of the waggon got in contact with a post on the road side, and it became necessary to dismount in order to extricate it. While about to do this, the leading horse lost his footing owing to the depth of the water and the strength of the current, and JOSEPH HOOPER seeing their perilous situation, exclaimed, 'Good God! We are all lost!' and at the same time called to his brother to unhook the other horses from the thiller. Almost at the same moment he fell from the back of the horse on which he was riding, and was seen no more. The youngest brother ROBERT succeeded in disengaging the horses, but whilst so occupied, melancholy to relate, he was likewise carried away by the velocity of the current, and, together with the four valuable animals he had been trying to save, was swept thro' a culvert or tunnel, which at that part of the road passes under the bed of the canal. Both the brothers were drowned without the possibility of assistance! The horses after being forced through the tunnel regained their feet, and passed over a meadow, but again getting into the brook, they also perished. The body of ROBERT was picked up the following morning, about a quarter of a mile from the spot, and that of the other unfortunate sufferer the same evening. Both were conveyed to the house of their brother, Mr YOUNGER HOOPER, jun. of Pounds Farm, where an inquest was held, on Friday, before John Cooke, Esq. Coroner, and a verdict of Accidental Death returned. It is needless to say, that the family are in a state of the most distressing affliction. One horse was saved by a Mr ELLIOTT, who ventured his life in its rescue, by wading in the water up to his chin.

Record_ID: 79452
Entry Number: 254
Year: 1824
Month: Dec
Day: 6
Surname: HOOPER
Forenames: Robert
Place of Residence: Lower House
Age at death: 17
Officiating Minister: J Hutchins
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P125 IN 1/15
Page No: 32
Parish_Chapel: Dymock
Soundex: H160

Record_ID: 79451
Entry Number: 253
Year: 1824
Month: Dec
Day: 6
Surname: HOOPER
Forenames: Joseph
Place of Residence: Lower House
Age at death: 28
Officiating Minister: J Hutchins
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P125 IN 1/15
Page No: 32
Parish_Chapel: Dymock
Soundex: H160