June: Inquests have been taken before John Cooke, Esq. Coroner, uder the following distressing circumstances. In the hundred of St Briavels, on the body of EDWARD JAMES, a collier, a young man about 20 years of age, who was killed in consequence of a portion of the roof of a coalpit suddenly falling upon him while at work. The rubbish was removed as speedily as possible, and the unfortunate young man was discovered quite dead, his head having been dreadfully smashed. A circumstance was mentioned connected with the catastrophe, which would in former times have given rise to superstitious ideas, viz. that till very recently he had worked with his father, but owing to some misunderstanding he left against his father's will to work in the pit where he almost immediately encountered a violent and untimely death.
Verdict Accidental Death.

Cannot find burial - one for Inspector Slowhands I think!

September: before WJ Ellis, Esq
at Coleford, on JAMES CUTTER, who lost his life in one of Messrs Trotter and Thomas's collieries, killed in a coal pit by a quantity of rubbish falling on him. Verdict of Accidental Death

Record_ID: 16190
Entry Number: 2010
Year: 1837
Month: Sep
Day: 16
Surname: CUTTER
Forenames: James
Place of Residence: Forest
Age at death: 24
Officiating Minister: Edward Field Rector
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: from 1813
Page No: 62
Parish_Chapel: English Bicknor
Soundex: C360

November/December: The following inquests have been taken during the present week, before John Cooke, Esq. Coroner: In the hundred of St Briavel's, on the body of MARK HILEY, aged 28 years, who with others was descending Churchway coalpit, in the Forest of Dean, when a mass of earth fell from the side of the shaft on his head, and knocked him out of the skiff to the bottom of the pit, a distance of nearly 20 yards. He was killed on the spot. Accidental Death.

Deaths Dec 1837 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HILEY Mark Westbury upon Severn 11 338

Dec 16. INQUESTS. The following inquests have been held during the present week before John Cooke, Esq. Coroner: At Westbury, in the Union Workhouse, on the body of an illegitimate infant, named DINAH MURRALL. The circumstances were somewhat singular, and at a time when the most absurd and false statements respecting paupers are circulated with so much mischievous industry, it may be as well to detail the particulars of this inquiry with more minuteness than would otherwise be necessary. The mother, also named DINAH MURRALL, was admitted into the workhouse some time ago, on the allegation of her parents that they were unable to support her, and from her being a complete idiot, she was totally unable to provide for her own subsistence; but nothing was said as to her being in a state of pregnancy, which was not suspected by the Matron or others till the time of her delivery, when she gave birth to a female child. Such was the imbecility of her mind that she had not the smallest idea of the duties of a mother, and another female pauper was put to sleep in a bed alongside her's, to teach her when to give the child suck and otherwise to attend to it. A third female also slept in the same room, and things thus proceeded till the infant was five weeks old, when one of the females above alluded to observed the idiot make a motion as if of distress, and it was ascertained that the child was dead, but from what cause, unless the mother had accidentally lain upon it, could not be discovered. There were no marks of violence upon the body. The mother was brought before the coroner and jury, but nothing could be gathered from the unconscious creature, and a general impression of disgust was created against the person who could take advantage of such a wretched being. The inquiry was very minute, both by the coroner and by the Board of Guardians, which had assembled the same day, and we are most happy in being enabled to state that nothing could exceed the humane attention which has been bestowed upon the poor woman ever since she has been an inmate of the workhouse, and more particularly since and at the time of her accouchement. The father of the infant is not known. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased was Found Dead

Cannot find a burial for the infant.
This is the mother:

Record_ID: 46009
Entry Number: 915
Year: 1839
Month: Dec
Day: 12
Surname: MURRELL
Forenames: Dinah
Place of Residence: Westbury
Age at death: 28
Officiating Minister: T M Wetherell Curate
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P354 IN 1/8
Page No: 115
Parish_Chapel: Westbury on Severn
Soundex: M640

July: Yesterday, at St Briavels.on the body of PHILIP SYMMONDS, a miner, aged 21 years. The deceased was at work in the Speedwell Pit, and unfortunately proceeded without sufficient precaution to a foul part of the mine, and was suffocated by the 'damp.' The gas was so powerful that eleven hours elapsed before the body could be extricated. Verdict, Accidental Death.

Record_ID: 69456
Entry Number: 387
Year: 1837
Month: Jul
Day: 14
Surname: SYMONDS
Forenames: Philip
Place of Residence: Drybrook
Age at death: 21 Years
Officiating Minister: H.Berkin
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P109 IN 1/11
Page No: 49
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex: S553

January 1838: On Wednesday se'nnight, a fatal accident befel a labouring man in the employ of Trotter, Thomas & Co., of Coleford and Monmouth. The poor fellow, whose name was JEREMIAH SMITH, was at the time of the accident working at Vellet's Land, in the neighbourhood of the Speech House, in the Forest of Dean, when a huge stone fell from a great height above him, and killed him on the spot. The deceased was a sober and upright man, and he has left a wife and six children to bewail their loss.

Record_ID: 130472
Entry Number: 1758
Year: 1837
Month: Dec
Day: 24
Surname: SMITH
Forenames: Jeremiah
Place of Residence: Coleford Lane End
Age at death: Years 47
Officiating Minister: G Ridout Vicar
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P227 IN 1/16
Page No: 220
Parish_Chapel: Newland
Soundex: S530

November/December: In the hundred of St Briavel's, on the body of JOSEPH MOUNTJOY, aged five years: the unfortunate child was ascending the steps usual in miners' cottages, leading from below to the bedroom, when he stepped and fell from the top upon its head on the stone floor near where his parents were sitting, and received such a severe fracture of the skull, and concussion of the brain, as to cause his death in a few days. Verdict, Accidental Death.

Record_ID: 69469
Entry Number: 400
Year: 1837
Month: Nov
Day: 20
Surname: MOUNTJOY
Forenames: Joseph
Place of Residence: Little Dean Woodside
Age at death: 5 Years
Officiating Minister: H.Berkin
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P109 IN 1/11
Page No: 50
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex: M532

July: Mr Cooke also took another inquest on Thursday at Newland, on the body of WILLIAM GOODALL, aged 13 years, whose death likewise took place under very melancholy circumstances. He had come from Monmouth for the purpse of fetching coal, and though cautioned of the danger he was incurring, he perished in pushing his tram or cart close to the pit's mouth for the purpose of being early served, and the vehicle over-balancing fell down the shaft, a distance of 55 yards, with the wretched boy clinging to it. He was literally dashed to pieces, his arm being cut nearly off, and his head completely smashed. Verdict Accidental death.

Feb 11. INQUESTS. Have been held during the last fortnight before W Joyner Ellis, Coroner, at Pillowell, in the Forest of Dean, on ELINOR JONES, aged 4 years, burnt to death, and verdict returned of Accidental Death.

Record_ID: 34877
Entry Number: 162
Year: 1837
Month: Feb
Day: 6
Surname: JONES
Forenames: Elenor
Place of Residence: Pillowell
Age at death: 4 years
Officiating Minister: H[enr]y Poole Minister
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P245 IN 1/29
Page No: 21
Parish_Chapel: Parkend
Soundex: J520

Feb: at Lindhouse, near Landogo, on JANE JONES, who died very suddenly.
Verdict, Sudden Death, by the visitation of God.

Record_ID: 91896
Entry Number: 403
Year: 1837
Month: Feb
Day: 6
Surname: JONES
Forenames: Jane
Place of Residence: Lindhurst
Age at death: 55 years
Officiating Minister: Tho[ma]s Tirenat Off[iciatin]g Min[iste]r
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P278 IN 1/19
Page No: 51
Parish_Chapel: St Briavels
Soundex: J520

April: A sad accident occurred at Lidney, a few days ago, to a son of Mr THOMAS JONES, a fine boy about four years old, who was playing in the brewhouse, where some hot wort was placed in a cooler on the floor, when he unfortunately fell into the liquor, and was so dreadfully scalded as to cause his death in a few hours.

Record_ID: 25012
Entry Number: 801
Year: 1837
Month: Apr
Day: 24
Surname: JONES
Forenames: Caleb
Place of Residence: The Basin - Parish of Lydney
Age at death: 4
Officiating Minister: H.C.H.Hawkins Curate
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P209 IN 1/11
Page No: 101
Parish_Chapel: Lydney
Soundex: J520

Jun 3. INQUESTS. MELANCHOLY INSTANCES OF SUDDEN DEATH.

Inquests have been taken this week before John Cooke, Esq. Coroner, under the following rather appalling circumstances: At Newnham, on the body of WILLIAM HARRISON, of the Unicorn public house in that town, who, on Saturday last, went into a shop for the purpose of being shaved, and while in the act of preparing for that operation, he fell to the ground, and in a moment breathed his last. He was 57 years of age, and it was ascertained that his death was occasioned by an attack of apoplexy. Verdict, Died by the Visitation of God.

Record_ID: 32753
Entry Number: 438
Year: 1837
Month: May
Day: 31
Surname: HARRISON
Forenames: William
Place of Residence: Newnham
Age at death: 65
Officiating Minister: Rob[ert] Rashdall
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P228 IN 1/8
Page No: 55
Parish_Chapel: Newnham
Soundex: H625

Jul 15. An inquest was held before the same coroner (John Cooke), at Coleford, on Monday, respecting the death of Mr WILLIAM BARRETT, aged 66 years, a respectable farmer and dealer residing at Westbury on Severn. The deceased it appeared left Coleford, where he had been transacting business on Saturday, for the purpose of proceeding to his house; and is supposed to have ridden his horse into a pond by the road side for the purpose of letting it drink, and to have accidentally fallen from the saddle into the water. He was found drowned by some persons passing the spot, and as his property appeared unmolested, and no violent injuries were perceptible on his person, no doubt could be entertained that death was accidental. The jury returned a verdict of Found Drowned.

Record_ID: 45902
Entry Number: 808
Year: 1837
Month: Jul
Day: 11
Surname: BARRETT
Forenames: William
Place of Residence: Westbury
Age at death: 65
Officiating Minister: J A Harrison Off[iciating Minister
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P354 IN 1/8
Page No: 101
Parish_Chapel: Westbury on Severn
Soundex: B630

August: MELANCHOLY CIRCUMSTANCE. On the evening of Monday week last, a lad named GEORGE SMITH, jun. aged about twelve years, son of Mr GEORGE SMITH, farmer, of Flaxley, left school at Newnham, and with some other boys of about his own age went to bathe in the river Severn, and was unfortunately drowned. His companions were so much alarmed that they ran away without giving any information of the melancholy occurrence, which only became known from the poor boy's clothes being accidentally discovered on the river bank. The body was not recovered till the following Thursday, when it was found floating on the water. An inquest was subsequently taken before John Cooke, Esq. Coroner, and a verdict of Accidental Death returned.

A still more melancholy aspect is given to this distressing event, from the circumstance as we understand, that when Mr Smith, the father, went with the intention of announcing the recovery of the body to the ill-fated lad's grandfather, Mr R. SMITH, farmer, of Taynton, he found that the latter gentleman had just died suddenly, having been in apparent good health but a very short time previously. Both cases too clearly proving to old and young that 'in the midst of`life we are in death.'

Record_ID: 17355
Entry Number: 54
Year: 1837
Month: Aug
Day: 13
Surname: SMITH
Forenames: George
Place of Residence: Westbury [on Severn] (Grove Farm)
Age at death: 12
Officiating Minister: Charles Crawley
Event: Burial
Cause of death: (Drowned
Memoranda: By Coroners Order No. 1
Notes:
Register Reference: P145 in 1/17
Page No: 7
Parish_Chapel: Flaxley
Soundex: S530

Record_ID: 43679
Entry Number: 179
Year: 1837
Month: Aug
Day: 14
Surname: SMITH
Forenames: Robert
Place of Residence: Taynton
Age at death: 68 years
Officiating Minister: Hardwicke Shute Curate
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P326 IN 1/9
Page No: 23
Parish_Chapel: Taynton
Soundex: S530

Aug 26. A distressing accident happened at Dymock on Saturday last, by which a young man named PERKINS lost his life. The unfortunate man fell from the shafts of a waggon laden with coals, and the wheels passing over his body caused his death in a few minutes, thus adding another to the many melancholy accidents which have resulted from the reprehensible practice in which waggoners so frequently indulge.

No burial found - possibly from out of the area.

Sep 23. A sad accident occurred at Tidenham a few days since to a waggoner in the employ of Mr MORRIS, of Woolaston; in endeavoruing to stop the horses in descending a hill, he unfortunately fell, and the wheels of the waggon passed over him, by which he received such injuries as to cause his death in a few hours.

I think this may be the one:

Record_ID: 49407
Entry Number: 326
Year: 1837
Month: Sep
Day: 10
Surname: SIMMONDS
Forenames: James
Place of Residence: Woolaston
Age at death: 49 years
Officiating Minister: C Bryan
Event: Burial
Cause of death: Killed b
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P376 IN 1/9
Page No: 41
Parish_Chapel: Woolaston
Soundex: S553

Oct: INQUESTS. The following inquests have been taken before J Cooke, Esq. Coroner: In the Forest of Dean, on the body of WM. LERIGO, aged about 14 years, who was drowned while bathing; at Joyford, English Bicknor,
Verdict, Accidental Death.

Record_ID: 40990
Entry Number: 4680
Year: 1837
Month: Sep
Day: 9
Surname: LERIEGO
Forenames: William
Place of Residence: High Beech
Age at death: years 12
Officiating Minister: J Chell
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P275 IN 1/12
Page No: 87
Parish_Chapel: Ruardean
Soundex: L620

October: at Littledean, on the body of JOHN GOODMAN, aged about 45 years, who died suddenly while returning from work; Died by the Visitation of God.

Record_ID: 18521
Entry Number: 562
Year: 1837
Month: Sep
Day: 24
Surname: GOODMAN
Forenames: Little Dean
Place of Residence: Hundred of St Briavels
Age at death: 45
Officiating Minister: J. Parsons Curate
Event: Burial
Cause of death: [not sta
Memoranda: Died suddenly in the Hundred os St Briavels
Notes:
Register Reference: P 110 IN 1/11
Page No: 71
Parish_Chapel: Littledean
Soundex: G355

Nov 11. INQUESTS. The following inquests have recently been taken before John Cooke, Esq. Coroner: At Taynton, on the body of SARAH GIBBS, aged 22 years, who had retired to bed in very good health, and on the following morning was found dead in her bedroom. Verdict, Found Dead.

Record_ID: 43680
Entry Number: 180
Year: 1837
Month: Nov
Day: 2
Surname: GIBBS
Forenames: Sarah
Place of Residence: Taynton
Age at death: 22 years
Officiating Minister: Hardwicke Shute Curate
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P326 IN 1/9
Page No: 23
Parish_Chapel: Taynton
Soundex: G120

Nov 11. INQUESTS at Ruardean, on the body of MARY THOMPSON, aged 6 years
....unfortunate little creatures met a premature and excruciating death by their clothes catching fire in the temporary absence of their parents. Verdict in each case, Accidental Death.

Record_ID: 40994
Entry Number: 4684
Year: 1837
Month: Nov
Day: 7
Surname: THOMPSON
Forenames: Mary
Place of Residence: Ruardean
Age at death: years 6
Officiating Minister: J Chell
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P275 IN 1/12
Page No: 87
Parish_Chapel: Ruardean
Soundex: T512

December: Another inquest was also held by Mr Cooke at Westbury, on the body of a little boy named JOHN VALLINDER, aged three years and a half, whose premature death was occasioned by his clothes taking fire in the temporary absence of the parents. It is truly distressing to have so repeatedly to recount the fearful and fatal accidents to so many unfortunate children from this cause, and it is lamentable that their constant occurrence and the publicity given to them, do not produce a greater degree of carefulness to prevent such shocking results. In this case the jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death.

Record_ID: 45918
Entry Number: 824
Year: 1837
Month: Dec
Day: 3
Surname: VALINDER
Forenames: John
Place of Residence: Westbury
Age at death: 3
Officiating Minister: William Crawley Curate
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P354 IN 1/8
Page No: 103
Parish_Chapel: Westbury on Severn
Soundex: V453

February: At Littledean, on the body of JOHN SAYSEL, an infant aged four months, who was most incautiously placed by his mother to lie down near the fire while she was absent for a few moments, during which time a coal fell on his clothes, and set them in a blaze.Accidental Death.

Record_ID: 18531
Entry Number: 572
Year: 1838
Month: Jan
Day: 24
Surname: SAYSEL
Forenames: John
Place of Residence: Little Dean
Age at death: 4 months
Officiating Minister: J. Parsons Curate
Event: Burial
Cause of death: [not sta
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P 110 IN 1/11
Page No: 72
Parish_Chapel: Littledean
Soundex: S240

February: FATAL ACCIDENT. An inquest was held at the Gloucester Infirmary on Thursday last, before Mr Rd. Coley, coroner, on the body of a labouring man named WILLIAM TURNER. The deceased, on the 4th of January, was working a threshing machine for Mr ROBERT PASSEY, of Dymock, when the roller caught hold of his glove and dragged his arm into the drum of the machine, where it was smashed in the most horrible manner. The unfortunate man was removed to the Infirmary, where amputation was performed, but the injury was too great for remedy by that means, and after lingering till Saturday last he died. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death, with a deodand of one shilling on the machine. [Glos. Infirmary Records, Glos. Ref Lib 17547; aged 30.]

Deodand From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The English common law of deodands traces back to the 11th century and has been applied, on and off, until Parliament finally abolished it in 1846. [1] Under this law, a chattel (i.e. some personal property, such as a horse or a hay stack) was considered a deodand whenever a coroner's jury decided that it had caused the death of a human being. [2]. In theory, deodands were forfeit to the crown, which was supposed to sell the chattel and then apply the profits to some pious use. [3]. (The term deodand derives from the Latin phrase "deo dandum" which means "to be given to God." In reality, the juries who decided that a particular animal or object was a deodand also appraised its value and the owners were expected to pay a fine equal to the value of the deodand. If the owner could not pay the deodand, his township was held responsible. [2].

Record_ID: 79855
Entry Number: 657
Year: 1838
Month: Feb
Day: 15
Surname: TURNER
Forenames: William
Place of Residence: Gloucester Infirmary
Age at death: 31
Officiating Minister: P Blencowe
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P125 IN 1/15
Page No: 83
Parish_Chapel: Dymock
Soundex: T656

February: INQUESTS have been taken during the last week, before WJ Ellis, Esq. Coroner, on children accidentally burnt to death, viz. At Coleford, on JOHN BAYTON, aged three years, whose pinafore caught fire from a coal falling from the grate upon it, and which caused his death. Verdict Accidental Death.

Record_ID: 130485
Entry Number: 1771
Year: 1838
Month: Feb
Day: 10
Surname: BAYTON
Forenames: John
Place of Residence: Whitecliff
Age at death: Years 4
Officiating Minister: G Ridout Vicar
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda: Son of Edward & Elizabeth
Notes:
Register Reference: P227 IN 1/16
Page No: 222
Parish_Chapel: Newland
Soundex: B350

Feb: And at Coleford, on MORGAN LEWIS, killed by logs of timber falling on him. Verdict, Accidental death.

Record_ID: 16199
Entry Number: 2019
Year: 1838
Month: Feb
Day: 13
Surname: LEWIS
Forenames: Morgan
Place of Residence: Lidbrook
Age at death: 7 years
Officiating Minister: Edward Field Rector
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: from 1813
Page No: 63
Parish_Chapel: English Bicknor
Soundex: L200

March: An inquest was held at Bream, in the parish of Newland, on Saturday last, before W. Joyner Ellis, Esq. on the body of Mr JAMES POWELL, who had gone to bed in perfect health at the house where he lodged, on the Wednesday preceding, and in the morning on his being called down to breakfast was discovered to be a corpse. Verdict, Sudden death by the visitation of God.

Record_ID: 145175
Entry Number: 449
Year: 1838
Month: Mar
Day: 6
Surname: POWELL
Forenames: James
Place of Residence: Bream Gloucestershire
Age at death: 65
Officiating Minister: T.D. Fosbroke Vicar
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: AO19/11
Page No: 57
Parish_Chapel: Walford
Soundex: P400

Apr 7. A poor man, apparently intoxicated with liquor, was found by the road side near Newland, on Friday evening last, by Mr HARPER, who resides near. He had him conveyed to his barn, and humanely rendered him every assistance. In the morning he had become very ill, and on an application, the parish officers sent a fly to convey him to a more comfortable house, and the surgeon to the Union, Mr MARSH, attended with praiseworthy promptness, but the poor man died before he could be removed. He proved to be one GEORGE STERRY, from Longhope, and had been travelling about that part of the country as a maker of rakes. On a post mortem examination, very considerable disease was discovered on his lungs, and the jury at an inquest subsequently held before WJ Ellis, Esq. returned a verdict that he had died from natural causes.

Record_ID: 2426
Entry Number: 83
Year: 1838
Month: Apr
Day: 4
Surname: STERRY
Forenames: George
Place of Residence: Long Hope
Age at death: 52
Officiating Minister: William Crawley Off[iciating] Min[ister]
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P50 IN 1/9
Page No: 11
Parish_Chapel: Blaisdon
Soundex: S360