Inquests from the Sherborne and Yeovil Mercury 31/01/1791 We hear that Mr Ball of Williton near Watchet, coroner for the Western division of Somerset has taken four inquests within this month, viz. On Robert Yeandall of Wellington , found dead - verdict, visitation of God. Hannah Westlake, of Fitzhead, who drowned herself in a fit of lunacy; Thomas Cooksley, of Wiveliscombe, supposed to have received a violent blow from his son, but Mr L. an eminent surgeon, who attended him, declared his death to be occasioned by an inflammation in the bladder - verdict, natural death. - And William Westlake, of West Monkton, who was found suffocated in a small pond. - verdict Accidental Death. 06/06/1791 Saturday se'nnight the body of a man was found drowned in the Mud-dock, Cannon's-marsh, Bristol. He proves to be a Mr William Tuffley, a man of considerable property, late of Whitcomb, in that neighbourhood. Tuesday last an inquest was taken at Staplegrove, near Taunton, by Mr Ball, one of the coroners for Somerset, on the body of a child about a quarter old. Henry Durk the father said, he and his wife had been drinking all night at a public house, called the Fighting Cocks, near Taunton. On their return about midnight they went to be with the deceased. In the morning the child, when they awoke was quite dead. The jury were unanimously of opinion both father and mother (by their own evidence) were in liquor, and lay on the infant; but as no marks of violence appeared, the verdict was "by the visitation of God". Durk sincerely hopes it will be a warning to parents, in case of intoxication, that a similar accident may not happen. 20/06/1791 Saturday se'nnight, the coroner's inquest sat on the body of Jacob Killen, a labourer of Widcombe, who the preceding day cut his throat, and ripped up his belly with a knife, so that he instantly died. He had been some time in a state of melancholy, and the jury's verdict was lunacy. Within a few days, in this neighbourhood, no less than three inquisitions have been taken by Mr Ball of Williton, one of the coroners for Somerset. The 5th instant as one Charles Farrant was crossing Enmoor Park, in the parish of Enmoor, he saw some boys near a pond of water there and went towards them; on looking into the water he perceived something resembling the foot of an infant; he went directly to a hedge and cut a stick, by which means he dragged it to land; on examining it he found it really a male infant child wrapped up in a check apron; its head beat and mangled in a manner too shocking to relate; round the body was fastened a brick, tied by a large jack cord 12 different times round the deceased. Slight suspicion fell on one Elizabeth Squires, in the neighbourhood. Elizabeth Gunningham at the inquest said, she knew Squires five weeks since bore the appearance of being with child, but at present she did not, which was all she knew. Elizabeth Hartley, Jane Sealey, Mary Coles, Elizabet Bennet and Grace Haste gave evidence to the same effect. As no positive evidence was given against Squires, she was not apprehended…Verdict, wilful murder against some person or persons unknown. The 11th instant an inquisition was taken by the same coroner on the body of Robert Warren, a farmer's son, about three years of age, found drowned or suffocated in a pond at North Petherton… verdict accidental death. And the 13th another inquisition was taken on the body of one ….. …… of Charlinch, killed by a putt loaded with stones going over him; he languished about 24 hours, in great agonies, and then expired…verdict, accidental death. 27/06/1791 John Edmonds age 15 gunn accident. Only son of Samuel Edmonds butcher of South Petherton. 04/07/1791 The 20th ult. an inquest was taken at Taunton, Somerset by Mr Ball, coroner of the western division of that county, on the body of one Henry Knight. At first it was supposed that his death was occasioned by a violent blow on his right side, by the stem of a pick he had received from his late master, John Rodber, who keeps the Nag's Head , in that town, but a little before his death. Mr Welsh, a most eminent surgeon, who attended the deceased, declared the occasion of Knight's death, he verily believed to be an inflammation on the lungs - Verdict visitation of God. The 25th ult. another inquest was taken at Exford in the said county on the body of Elizabeth Wyburn who poisoned herself. Mary Bradford, on the inquest said, she was sent for by the master of the deceased, to attend the deceased; on her entering the room the deceased had violent vomitings; on her looking in the window she saw a pot, and supposing it to be poison charged her with it. She said "I have done what I ought to do". Immediately, Mr Chorley, an able surgeon of Dunster, was called in and said she had every symptom of being poisoned; he patiently waited on her for about five hours till her departure, giving her every necessary preparation in this distressing malady, but in vain. Mr Chorley, on examining the aforesaid pot found arsenick had been in it and she declared in her dying moments, no one was an accomplice in her taking it, and that she had really taken half a table spoonful. Verdict lunacy. And on Tuesday the 28th ult. another inquest was taken at Sampford Arundel, in the same county, on the body of William Austin, a child about 2 years and a half old, killed by the wheel of a road waggon belonging to Mr James Parsons of Taunton carrier. Mary Roberts of Chachford, in the county of Devon, said she was with the waggon, Saturday last, passing a place in the turnpike road called Beam Bridge; leading from Cullompton to Wellington, and met a Bristol coach. The waggoner drew in, and turned on the left side, looking round observed the deceased, and his brother a lad about four years of age, near the bank of the hedge in the said highway; on her again looking around to see if the children were safe, she saw the youngest, who appeared to be between the spokes of the wheel, and called to the waggoner who immediately stopped his waggon, but too late; the child languished about a quarter of an hour, and then expired. The other child is much injured, and it is supposed cannot recover. 25/07/1791 Friday se'nnight, one John Daniel, who was intoxicated went to the house of Mr Woolcott who keeps the Rose and Crown in Crewkerne, and some dispute ensuing, he struck the landlord a violent blow with a can which considerably hurt him; and John Goodding who happened to be present, attempting to interfere, he struck him violently several times with his fist as to occasion his death. He has left a wife and six children. The coroners inquest have since sat on the body, and brought Daniel guilty of manslaughter. The 11th inst. Mr Layng, one of the coroners for the county of Somerset, took an inquistion on the body of Mrs Wilkinson, of the Globe Inn, Wells, who was found the day preceding with her throat cut in a shocking manner. Verdict lunacy. 15/08/1791 John Daniel, the man whom the coroners inquest have found guilty of manslaughter in killing John Godding at the Rose and Crown at Crewkerne has surrendered himself and is now in Ivelchester gaol. Of course he will take his trial at the ensuing assizes - fined 6d and imprisoned for 6 months. 26/08/1791 Thomas Lewis wheelwright to Mr Stone corn factor of Bath crushed to death when chaise overturned. 19/09/1791 Mr Ball, one of the Coroners for Somerset has lately taken the following inquisitions: One on the body of Mary Rose of Ashbrittle, who hanged herself . Verdict Lunacy. A second on the body of a lad whose name was Ezekiel Grey of Taunton, who was accidentally drowned by getting out of his depth when he was bathing in the river Tone. And a third on the body of George Rawle of Porlock, who fell out of a boat and was drowned. 31/10/1791 Thomas Piner footman age 22 threw himself from window at Bath. 21/11/1791 Robert Anstey gardener Milborne Port found dead in field at Purse Caundle, thought to have missed his way and died due to inclemency of weather. 28/11/1791 Mr Bowden of Mark murdered mother while drunk. 12/12/1791 Wednesday se'nnight Mr George Stocker, an eminent farmer at Whitchurch, in the county of Somerset, dropped down at his own door, and expired in about five minutes. Wednesday se'nnight as one Peter Dore, a journeyman dyer, was walking up Broad Street, Bristol, apparently in perfect health, an internal blood vessel suddenly broke, and so violent was the discharge of blood, that in about ten minutes he died. Sunday se'nnight a poor man was found dead on the Marsh Common leading to the new passage Bristol: It is supposed he perished through the inclemency of the weather on Saturday night. Monday night about six o'clock as a boat belonging to Mr Tudor, one of the Pill pilots, was putting off from the Gibb-slip, Bristol, to go down the river, the violence of the current drove her between two vessels, where she overset and out of eight persons who were on board, only four were saved. The 3d instant a poor man whose name was Waller was killed by the inclemency of the weather, near Kilmersdon, Somerset. He has left a wife and six children and his wife is now pregnant with the seventh.