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 [Book 21].

UNKNOWN, man - on the farm of John REASIGH/BEASIGH
- 25 May 1870 - by Morgan H. CLARKE, J.P., acting coroner
  (no inquisition page/description; constable summons only)
  [Book 5, 60-60] Judgment Liber 21, 515?)


UNKNOWN, Jimmy - near Antietam Iron Works.
- 27 Aug 1870 - by Jacob H. GROVE, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from accidental drowning from falling off a boat named 
  J. G. Greenless.  Body found in the water on the edge of the canal. 
  Dr. A. A. BIGGS
  [Book 5, 36-38] (Filed 14 Oct 1870, Judgment Liber 21, 519)


ANDREWS, William, farmer - near Hancock
- 27 Aug 1873 - by W. H. LOWE, J.P., acting coroner
- Death by suicide; found hanging dead to a Dogwood sapling, at his farm, 
  about 2 miles NE of Hancock.  
  [Book 5, 61-63] (Filed 1 Sep 1873, Judgment Liber 21, 568)


BELL, Elizabeth - at Leitersburgh.
- 17 Feb 1870 - by James W. LEGGETT, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from disease Syncofee.  Dr. Samuel M. GOOD. 
  Witnesses:  Mary BELL, Simon P. BELL, John BELL.
  [Book 5, 26-27] (Filed 22 May 1871, Judgment Liber 21, 521)


BINGAMAN, Philip - at Wood Point School House
- 29 May 1870 - by William M. TICE, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from appoplexy.  Dr. D. E. WEISE
  Witnesses:  Mrs. BINGAMAN, the widow.
  [Book 5, 11-12] (Filed 16 Feb 1871, Judgment Liber 21, 523-524)


BOWERS, Margaret Ann - at Sandy Hook
- 10 Mar 1871 - by Thomas WATKINS, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from accidental drowning under the influence of spiritual 
  liquers.  Dr. Richard BOTLER.
  [Book 5, 5-6] (Filed 14 Mar 1871, Judgment Liber 21, 524)


BYRAN, Martin - at Lock 33 on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
- 27 Apr 1870 - by John H. REED, J.P., acting coroner
- Death by accidental drowning between Joseph NUN's Lock and the 
  Two Locks on the canal on 16 Apr 1870.  
  [Book 5, 54-56] (Filed 8 Jun 1870, Judgment Liber 21, 515)


COLEFLOWER, George - at house of A. R. LYNCH
- 7 Apr 1871 - by Samuel BOYER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from drowning in the Potomac River.  
  Witnesses:  William SHOW.
  [Book 5, 9-10] (Filed 25 Apr 1871, Judgment Liber 21, 524)


CORLEY, McClellan - in Williamsport at house of J. W. W. CORLEY
- 17 May 1870 - by O. McCLAIN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death by accidental drowning in the canal near Williamsport.  
  Dr. John L. STEFFEY.
  Witness:  Dennis CLARK.
  [Book 5, 51-53] (Filed 8 Jun 1870, Judgment Liber 21, 516)


CROCKETT, James - at Hancock
- 13 Jul 1870 - by Jacob CRAIG, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from suicide by shooting himself through the brain with a 
  rifle ball, died instantly.  Dr. James B. DELAPLANE.
  Witnesses:  Mrs. BINGAMAN, the widow.
  [Book 5, 16-18] (Filed 15 Feb 1871, Judgment Liber 21, 523)


CUMMINS, John - opposite the Two Locks.
(Man was unknown to jurors; was 5'6" tall, brown hair, fair complexion, 
age about 35; wearing pants and vest of bard Basimer, box toe gaiters, 
a white fine shirt with a heavy gola ring on the left little finger.)
- 22 Nov 1870 - by John LONG, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from drowning; found lying in the Potomac River; no marks of 
  violence.  Dr. Samuel K. SNIVELY. 
   Note - Since the inquest, the man was ascertained to be John CUMMINS 
  and was employed by W. James MARSH on the Rail Road up until the time 
  he left about five or six weeks since on a spree.  His body was taken 
  charge of by Mr MARSH and buried.
  [Book 5, 31-33] (Filed 29 Nov 1870, Judgment Liber 21, 519-520)


DAVIS, Solomon - at Sandy Hook
- 23 May 1871 - by Thomas WATKINS, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from paralytic fit.  Dr. Walter COCKRELL
  [Book 5, 3-4] (Filed 27 May 1871, Judgment Liber 21, 525)


EARHEART, Mary Catharine - at Williamsport
- 16 May 1870 - by O. McCLAIN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death by drowning herself in the canal.  Dr. Henry ZELLER.
  Witnesses:  Rosana FARROW, Catharine L. WOLTZ. Catharine R. WOLTZ, 
  Mary BONZHOFF, Hellen LEMEN.
  [Book 5, 48-50] (Filed 8 Jun 1870, Judgment Liber 21, 516)


EDWARDS, Daniel - at Hagerstown
- 2 Jan 1870 - by William M. TICE, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from musket ball fired by an unknown person in front of the 
  residence of Daniel WARD on the morning of the 1st of January 1870. 
  Witnesses:  Charles RIDENOUR, William NESBITT, John WEIBLE, Daniel 
  WARD, David RIFE, James PICKET, George DIGGS, Alfred GRAY, John 
  PATTENGALL, Alfred SMITH, William WAGONER, Daniel BARNS, Holly 
  VANLEAR, Robert FRANCIS, Samuel AMDERSON, Samuel ALLEN, Richard BROWN, 
  Albert SMOTHERS, Upton WAGONER.
  [Book 5, 21-23] (Filed 16 Feb 1871, Judgment Liber 21, 522)


HETZER, William - at Williamsport.
- 19 Dec 1870 - by John LONG, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from accident by becoming entangled in the hind wheel of a 
  loaded wagon while in motion.  Dr. S. K. SNIVELY and Dr. D. S. WEISEL. 
  Witnesses:  Jacob CRESSINGER, Mr LECKRONE, Charles JESSAH, Joseph 
  BECKLEY, W. S. SHOOP.
  [Book 5, 28-30] (Filed 20 Dec 1870, Judgment Liber 21, 520)


HILL, Daniel - at District #1 & #11, within 3.5 miles of the 
Mountian Lock and near the Two Locks.
- 13 Oct 1870 - by William M. TICE, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from accidental drowning by the act of God. 
  [Book 5, 24-25; #1233] (Filed 15 Nov 1870, Judgment Liber 21, 521-522)


HOLMAN, Reason - near Sharpsburg on the C & O Canal
- 28 Sep 1872 (or 1870?) - by Jacob H. GROVE, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from accidental drowning.  Dr. A. A. BIGGS
  Witnesses:  Mrs. BINGAMAN, the widow.
  Note - Josiah HILL, constable, attended the burial of negro Reason 
  HOLMAN with three others assisting. (then X'd out)
  [Book 5, 13-15] (Filed 18 Oct 1870 (or 1872?), Judgment Liber 21, 541)


HOUCK, John D. - at Hancock
- 14 Feb 1871 - by William M. TICE, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from apoplectic fit superceded by excessive drinking of spirits.  
  Dr. B. SCOTT.
  Witnesses:  Mrs. HERSCHLER, Charles POFFENBARGER, Lewis OSTER, Josiah 
  H. HAMILTON.
  [Book 5, 19-20] (Filed 16 Feb 1871, Judgment Liber 21, 522-523)


JOHNSON, Charles, colored - at 4 Locks on the Canal
- 2 Jul 1870 - by Tacitius N. HALLEY, J.P., acting coroner
- Death by accidental drowning by falling in the Lock.  
  Dr. F. C. DOYLE.
  Witness:  Morris NIPTON, colored
  [Book 5, 45-47] (Filed 27 Jul 1870, Judgment Liber 21, 517)


SNYDER, Daniel - near Funkstown
- 25 May 1870 - by Morgan H. CLARKE, J.P., acting coroner
- Death by the visitation of God in a natural way; no marks of violence.  
  Dr. R. H. E. BOTELER.
  [Book 5, 57-59] (Filed 8 Jun 1870, Judgment Liber 21, 515)


SULLIVAN, Patrick - at Williamsport
- 11 May 1871 - by John LONG, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from accidental drowning in the canal basin.  
  Dr. Samuel K. KNIVELY
  Witnesses:  William H. TOY, William WOLF, Charles TAYLOR.
  [Book 5, 7-8] (Filed 16 May 1871, Judgment Liber 21, 525)


WHALEN, George, colored - at New Industry
- 1 May 1870 - by Samuel BOYER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from drowning by falling off the canal boat, named John Hammon, 
  into the C & O Canal. 
  Witness:  Jacob T. LOMAS
  [Book 5, 43-44] (Filed 10 May 1870, Judgment Liber 21, 517)


WHITTINGTON, Philip R. E. Lee - near Mercerville
- 8 Aug 1870 - by Samuel BOYER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from drowning by falling into the C & O Canal. 
  [Book 5, 39-40] (Filed 23 Aug 1870, Judgment Liber 21, 518)

Not listed but found in newspaper
Herald & Torch Light, Hagerstown, MD - Jul 8, 1874

Coroners Inquisitions
Unknown - Colored Man
BANENS, George
BORAN, George
BROWN, Albert
KNODE, child of Ruth KNODE
LYNCH, B.
MOON, Charles
REED, Annie
ROBINSON, Elizabeth
ROSS/BOSS, Louisa
SEARS, Matthew
WALLACE, W. T.
WILLIAMS, Henry (colored)