London and Southwark

An Inquisition indented, taken for our Sovereign and Lady the Queen at the Parish of St John in the Borough of Southwark in the County of London on the Twentieth Day of February in the First Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen Defender of the Faith before William Payne Esquire Coroner for the City of London and the Borough of Southwark in the County of Surrey on View of the Body of John Wilkins now here lying within the jurisdiction of the said Coroner upon the Oaths of Robert Mongar,Thomas Marlow, James Winton,George James Field, Jonathon Mallett, Timothy Waller, William Hick, John Skudder, Henry Long, John Winton, Thomas Wooton, William Yardley, William Pay, Thomas Sakar and George Duck.

Good and lawful Men of the said Borough who being now here duly chosen, sworn, and charged to enquire on Her Majesties Behalf when, how and in what Manner the said John Wilkins came to his death say upon their oaths that the said John Wilkins being a male person of the age of fifty years and a Waterman on the seventeenth day of February in the year aforesaid being in a certain boat upon the River Thames near to Blackwall it happened that the said John Wilkins did then and there accidentally fall out of the said boat into the said river and by means thereof did then and there accidentally receive a mortal injury to his system of which mortal injury the said John Wilkins on the same day and year last aforesaid at the Parish aforesaid in the said Borough and County did die. And so the Jurors aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do say that the said John Wilkins in manner aforesaid accidentally casually and by misfortune came to his death and not otherwise.

In Testimony whereof as well the said Coroner as the said Jurors have to this Inquisition set their Hands and Seals, the Day, Year, and Place first above written.

W Payne Cr		Geo Ducks		Geo J Fields
Rob Monger		Jn Mallett		Ths Wooton
Ths Marlow		John Winton		Wm Wicks
Jas Winton		Henry Long		Wm Pay
Ths Sakar		Ty Waller
Ty Skudder		Wm Yardley

London and Southwark

The Information of Witnesses taken on Oath for our Sovereign Lady the Queen touching the death of John Wilkins at the Parish of St John in the Borough of Southwark in the County of Surrey on the 20th day of February 1838.

Edwin Henry Howe of No 6 Wellington Street, Greenwich a waterman, says on Saturday last about 1⁄2 past 2 I came on to wharf opposite the Golden Anchor at Greenwich and I saw a man running. I run and saw a Ships boat rowing in shore by 2 lads and the deceased sitting in the bow of the boat. I assisted the deceased out of the boat. He was very wet all over. A lad in the boat with the deceased said he been making water and fell overboard. We took him to the Golden Anchor. From there we took him to the next house. We stripped him and rubbed him before the fire and gave him some hot brandy and water. He recovered and said he wished to go home. He had the dry clothes on, he said he had been on the ship Machana and was going back to Galley Quay and I walked back with him to the Golden Anchor close to where the boat lay, and he said he could row home very well. Myself and ___ ___ and Godly rowed him up to Galley Quay. When he got ashore at Galley Quay he appeared to loose his feet. We took him to the fitting house and from there he was light home to Horsleydown in a Hackney Coach. He got to Galley Quay at 1⁄2 past 5. John Godly of Crowley Wharf, Greenwich says I know ___ ___ Howe knowledge.

Edward Mears of No 32 Fairly Street, Horselydown lighterman says I light him from the Coach to his house and he appeared to die as soon as he got in doors. John Henry, a Surgeon, was in attendance directly and has said the man was dead. I knew him from 20 to 30 years. His son was John Wilkins. His age was around 50. I believe he had been ill before this. Henry John Wilkins son of the deceased says my father had been ill about 3 months. He caught a cold all the time and which had confined him inside. He had been getting better. I saw him last Friday night. This living is gone - may the two boys who light him show belonged to. John Henry of __ Thames, attending Surgeon says I was called in __ the __ on his light house. He was then quite dead. It appeared to me that he had died from the affects of cold and it did not appear to me that he had been intoxicated. I judged from the pupil of his eyes. I think he had the chill and died of cold. I have no doubt he died of chill received from the immersion in the water. I know his wife.

Taken on oath

before me

William Payne, Coroner

To the Beadles and Constables of the Parish of Saint John Horsleydown in the Borough of Southwark in the County of Surrey By Virtue of my Office these are His Majesty’s Name, to charge and command you, These are, in Her Majesty’s Name to charge and command you, that on sight hereof, that on hereof, you summon and warn Twenty-Four good and sufficient Men of your Parish personally to be and appear before me on Tuesday the Twentieth Day of February instant at Five of the Clock in the Evening at at the House called The Bell and Griffin situate in Boss Street in the said Parish then and there to do and execute all such things as shall be given them in charge, and to enquire on Her Majesties behalf, touching the Death of John Wilkins and for your so doing this shall be your warrant; and that you attend at the time and place above-mentioned, to make a Return of the Names of those you have summoned, and further to do and execute such other matters as shall be then and there enjoined you; and have you then and there this Warrant. Given under my Hand and Seal this Nineteenth day of February 1838.

W Payne Coroner

The Execution of this Warrant appears by the Panel hereunto annexed.

The Answer of