BIRCH from Pontesbury - Help to find coroner’s report please

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Shelagh Wilkinson
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My ancestor, William BIRCH died on 28th July 1885 in Bridge Lees, Pontesbury. His cause of death was “injuries accidentally received from falling off a wagon of hay on 27th July 1885”. There was an inquest held on 29th July 1885, the coroner being Mr Edward Clarke, coroner for the Ford Division of the County of Salop.

Can anyone help me to locate that coroner’s report - I don’t know where to start looking.

Thank you. SW

Michael J Hulme
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Hello Shelagh

Coroner's records of inquests are notoriously difficult to locate, partly because they are subject to closure for many years and then often destroyed instead of being deposited in a local archive.  There are exceptions so it is always worth contacting the local archives office to establish whether they have anything.  In your case you need Shropshire Archives at Shrewsbury.

There is one document at Shropshire Archives with the reference QR566 Item No: 348 Extension 01 for the October quarter of 1885.  This should provide basic details of the date and place of the inquest plus a list of the jurors but is unlikely to tell you much more about how or why your relative died.

Your best source of detailed information from the inquest will be found in the local newspapers.  These may have only been published once a week so with the death being on a Monday and the inquest on a Wednesday the report may appear at the end of the same week or at the end of the following week.  Do check both.  Unfortunately I don't think you will find a suitable newspaper on the Internet so it probably means taking a trip to Shrewsbury to search the original papers.

Mike

PhilPoole
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Hello Shelagh,

I took a look at Shropshire newspapers held on Findmypast website. The only reference I could find was in Eddowes Journal dated 6th January 1886 summarising some "Local History" events that occurred in 1885. This included the death of Wiiliam Birch on July 27th. It simply noted his name, address and that he was accidentally killed. 

There doesn't appear to be any report in The Shrewsbury Chronicle.

It might be worth calling Shropshire Archives to find out what newspapers they hold.

Phil

Shelagh Wilkinson
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Last seen: 5 years 47 weeks ago
Joined: Sunday, 4-03-2018

Hello Mike,

Thank you so much for your advice. I shall certainly contact the Shropshire Archives at Shrewsbury to see if they have anything on record there. 

Shrewsbury is a beautiful city, I have visited it several times and am delighted that I have an excuse to take another trip there. I assume the newspapers would be held in the library? Would I need to make an appointment to see them or are they available on a drop in basis - do you know?

Shelagh

Shelagh Wilkinson
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Last seen: 5 years 47 weeks ago
Joined: Sunday, 4-03-2018

Hello Phil,

Thank you for taking the time to look on the Findmypast website. I will certainly call the Shropshire Archives and see if I can glean anything more from them.

Shelagh

 

Michael J Hulme
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Last seen: 35 min 9 sec ago
Joined: Saturday, 4-06-2011

Hello Shelagh

The newspapers should be at Shropshire Archives not the Library.  They are almost certainly on microfilm or microfiche in which case you shouldn't need to make an appointment.

Just in case you need to look at some originals for some reason be prepared to produce some identification to get a readers ticket.  They can take a photograph and produce it at reception.

See this page about newspapers and this page for general help with several links.

Mike