Genealogy Chat

Hi everyone,

I posted this elsewhere in relation to a thread I had on the Parrs in London, but thought I might get more luck here.

One of my relations died in a workhouse in Westminster in 1875 and it says on the death cert that an inquest was held into the death. I've never seen this before and wondered if records would have been kept for this?

Thanks,

amy

Hi Amy

Most of the time inquest records are not kept. You could try contacting the nearest records office to see if any exist.

You best bet would be to see if the inquest was reported in the local paper (they usually are) and again, the records office will probably hold newspaper archives.

Sam x

Thanks Sam, I wouldn't have thought of looking in the local papers!

I have just had great success by contacting Hackney Archives who hold old newspaper articles on micro film. If you have exact date and name and coroners name it will be quit easy to find. There will a charge for photocopies,but well worth it.
I got a wealth of info and lots of clues to lead me on my search.

That's great Donna, did they charge you for the service apart from photocopy charges?

No .If you send them a really polite email and offer to pay,Then you will get away with it. Well i did. I was even in contact with the archivist over xmas and got really friendly.They sent me more stuff than i had actually asked for.
Just remember to say thanks.

Like i said if you have an exact date then they will want to find out more . Like history and clues just like we do.

In lots of areas, it is not actually the records offices which hold the newspaper reports, but the nearest large library which has a family history section. I got copies of an inquest report from Reading library in this way and have just helped someone get one from Stockton library.
So check the holdings for the records office in the area, but if it doesn't mention the newspapers, google for the local library service.

I had to pay for the search, but it wasn't much and as I had the inquest date, they found it straight away

Linda

I have a feeling that this would be the place to try:

http://www.westminster.gov.uk/libraries/archives/family-history/

Hi Amy

Have had help finding a couple of inquest reports as they are usually in the local newspaper a few days later. If you want to PM me with an email address I can send one on to you so that you can see the detail in them
Willsy

Hi everyone,

Thanks to all your help I've tracked down the inquest report! I am so chuffed! Can't wait to get it!

Westminster Abbey hold all of the inquest details and I sent them an email, which they replied to this morning saying that they do hold the details of the inquest and that I just need to send them a cheque for the postage.

Yay! x

The inquest results arrived today, they are really useful but very hard to read! Does anyone have any tips for reading old handwriting? I was thinking of uploading a short piece up here if anyone is interested in helping me decipher it?

So far I have managed to work out that Charles John Parr was attacked in the street and was knocked down and kicked. He was found by his 11 year old grandson who took him home and put him to bed. He was taken to the workhouse as a result and died about a week later from disease of the heart, accelerated by his broken ribs.