KNOTTINGLEY INQUEST REPORTS

FROM THE WAKEFIELD ARCHIVES

Ref: C493 - K2/1/29 number 1555
Inquest into the death of WILLIAM WAINWRIGHT, 1st February 1869, at the house of Edwin Fell, Anvil Inn, Knottingley.

Sarah Ann the wife of Robert Shaw of Castle ford a Bottle Sorter says: Deced was my father and was 51 years old a Canal Boatman. He lived at Brotherton with his wife and two children. I did not often see him. He was a healthy man.

George Townsley of Brotherton a Canal Boatman says: I have known deced for the last 20 years. I have not seen him for more than a week. I came here from Leeds last Saturday night and heard that he was missing. I saw his waistcoat on board of Mr Carter's vessel with which deced went. I went to Brotherton yesterday morning and called at his house and saw his wife who said she had not seen him since last Monday. I then came back to Knottingley and went to the staith where the vessel was in the Aire & Calder canal. I felt with a boat hook and afterwards with a grappling iron and found deced's body in the middle of the canal near the vessel. His clothes were allright.

William Jackson of Cow Lane, Knottingley a Shipwright says: I began to work on board a keel last Wednesday. Deced was minding the vessel. Between 4 and 5 o'clock last Saturday afternoon I had finished my work and left deced alone on the vessel. He said he was going to put on the fore hatches and then go to Brotherton. Yesterday morning as I past the vessel I saw that the hatches were still off. Deced was quite sober when I left. I had taken the man ropes off. Deced appeared to be in good spirits.

Ann Dodgson of Knottingley a Widow says: I undressed and laid out the deced's body and saw no mark of injury.

Verdict: Found drowned - accident.

[INDEX]

[History Index] [Genealogy]