Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 for Wiltshire

Smith, Ann         1887 March 12^th        Westbury

Mr Sylvester (coroner) held an inquest at the Oak Inn on Monday, relating to the death of Ann Smith, aged 6-, wife of Benjamin Smith, carpenter, of Warminster Road, Westbury.

The deceased, who was of intemperate habits, separated from her husband and lived alone, and recently she had been confined to her bed. No one of late attended upon the deceased, but some of the neighbours now and again did odd jobs for her. On Friday night she was seen by Mrs Hunt, a neighbour, who, at deceased’s request, locked the door. Next morning, Mrs Hunt’s servant went to the house to take deceased a cup of tea, and found her dead.

Mr Read, surgeon, of Westbury, said that the deceased, who had given way to drink, had suffered from weakness of the heart.

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from natural causes.”

FreeBMD gives age as 53 – Ed.