Coroners Inquisitions

Coroners Inquisitions are investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden, violent, unnatural, or suspicious manner, or who died without medical attendance. The coroner would summon a jury of twelve white men, usually prominent citizens of that locality, to assist him in determining cause of death.

Additional information may be found in Judgment records.

Female Child - at William CAWTHRON's house
- 19 Sep 1854 - near Keeptrist 
- Death by foul means at hands of some unknown person or persons.
  [Book 1, 7-8]

Female Child - at grave of dead child 
- 19 Sep 1854 - at Willaim CATHRON's, near Keeptrist
- Death by violence at the hands of some unknown person/persons, 
  suspicion it was the mother.  [Book 1, 14-16]

Unknown Male
- 31 Jan 1854 - in Licking Crick
- Death by unknown cause.  [Book 1, 54-56]


BARNES, Harvey - near Lewis G. STANHOPE's warehouse
- 5 Jul 1853 - on the banks of the Canal
- Death while intoxicated about 9:00 pm on 4 July 1853, while 
  asleep on the stern of the boat, called 'The Archibald Cary', 
  accidentally fell overboard and was drowned.
  [Book 1, 76-77]

BEAR, Robert S./L. - at house of William G. BEAR
- 20 Aug 1853
- Death by poison, believed to be administered by Mary Ellen THOMAS.
  [Book 1, 73-75]

BOWERS, John W. - at house of John ESMINGER 
- 20 Nov 1853 - in Williamsport
- Death from rupture of the spleen caused by a blow from a stone 
  or some other missile inflicted by a slave named BEN, belonging 
  to John ASH; concluded the blow was inflicted in self defense.
  [Book 1, 56-59]

BRISCO, William, a negro slave - at Edward GARROTT's 
- 11 Apr 1855 - at Sandy Hook, village of Keep Trist
- Death from being crushed under the cars of the B & O Rail Road, 
  while intoxicated.  [Book 1, 32-33]

COOPER, Frank, a colored man - at Williamsport
- 6 Aug 1854 - at Jacob B. MASTER's warehouse
- Death by accidental drowning caused by breaking of a tiller 
  on a canal boat near Dam #4.  Robert McCARTY was summoned to 
  testify.  [Book 1, 26-31]

DONNELLY, James 
- 18 Oct 1854 - at the house of Thomas GILEAU
- Death by unknown causes.  [Book 1, 17-18]

HUGHES, Robert - at house of John SHARP
- 22 Dec 1853 - in Williamsport
- Death from wounds inflicted by Joseph ROGERS, John KENDLE 
  and others in an affray in Williamsport on 20 Dec 1853.
  [Book 1, 60-61]

KEPLINGER, Michael 
- 28 Feb 1854 - at Jonathan HAGER's Mill
- Death by accidental fall from the fourth story of the Mill.
  [Book 1, 42-43]

KEPLINGER, Michael 2nd Inquisition
- 9 Mar 1854 - at Southeran Burial Ground
- Death by blow from a bludgeon at hands of John SPADE.
  [Book 1, 44-45]

MARTIN, Lewis, a  negro man 
- 28 Dec 1854 - at Michael HAMMOND's
- Death from Apoplexy.  [Book 1, 19-20]

McGUIRE, Mary 
- 17 Nov 1853 - in Sandy Hook
- Death by accidental drowning.
  [Book 1, 62-66]

McLochlin, Daniel - at Mill Stone Point
- 13 Aug 1853
- Death by some unknown cause. [Book 1, 71-72]

MOORE, Charles Richard, s/o Daniel MOORE 
- 3 Apr 1854 - at Mrs E. PAXTEN in Sharpsburg
- Death by accidentally being thrown overboard by his father 
  while intoxicated and drowned in the canal.
  [Book 1, 46-47]

MYERS, Jonathan - at Lock #53 on the C&O Canal
- 21 Apr 1854 - at Mrs E. PAXTEN in Sharpsburg
- Death by accidental drowning in the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal; 
  witness, John TROXELL.  [Book 1, 48-49]

NUNAMAKER, John 
- 14 Oct 1853 
- Death by violent congestion of the brain, caused by intemperance 
  and severe contusions on the head caused by a fall or falls, 
  whether from a blow received by the officer who had him under 
  arrest or during spasms while in jail; unable to determine.  
  [Book 1, 69-70]

POLETTE, George, a colored man
- 18 Jun 1853 - 
- Death by wound of the heart inflicted by Joshua ANDERSON 
  by some sharp object.  [Book 1, 11-13]

PUGH, James - Leitersburg, District 9
- 1 Sep 1854 - found on the bank of Antietam Creek 
- Death from labouring under partial insanity from 
  intemperance and drowned himself.  [Book 1, 4-6]
    
RALLONS, Mary, cullon woman, w/o Emanuel RALLONS 
- 27 Jan 1854 - at house of Emanuel RALLONS - Sharpsburg
- Death by unknown causes.  [Book 1, 52-53]

REDBURN, Priscilla 
- 3 Jan 1855 - found at her house
- Death by unknown cause.  [Book 1, 36-37]

REESE, Peter 
- 1 Feb 1854 - at house of Mrs. SAUTZ(?)
- Death from pistol at hands of John BEIDER.  
  [Book 1, 38-39]

RICKARD, John P. - at Funkstown
- 13 Dec 1854
- Death by accidental drowning in Antietam Creek.  
  [Book 1, 21-23]

SHANK, David - at house of Henry SHANK
- 27 Jun 1853 - found lying dead in a carpenter shop
- Death by self-inflicted gunshot with a rifle in the breast.
  [Book 1, 78-79]

SIESLER, John P.
- 24 Nov 1854 - at Sandy Hook
- Death by accidental drowning.  [Book 1, 34-35]

SNYDER, Margaret, colored 
- 8 Apr 1854 - at her house
- Death by a blow from a stave thrown by William MOXLEY 
  on 4 Mar 1854.  [Book 1, 40-41]

STIPES, Reuben, citizen of Virginia 
- 29 Aug 1854 - at Keeptrist
- Death by accidental fall from the car (train).  
  [Book 1, 9-10]

SULIVAN, Isaiah 
- 12 Feb 1854 - at Keeptrist
- Death by intoxication from all information raised 
  in Montgomery County  [Book 1, 50-51]

THOMPSON, Henrietta/Elen - at house of James NULL
- 29 Oct 1853 
- Death accidental drowning in the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.
  [Book 1, 67-68]

WELLINGER, Abraham 
- 8 Jan 1855 - at Wellinger house
- Death by Epilepsy.  [Book 1, 24-25]

 

The End of Book 1 of Washington Co, Maryland Inquisitions - 1853-1855