Genealogy Chat

Hi all, Just received my grandfather's death certificate and it's states that an inquest was held and that he died on barbituate poisoning, How do I find details of the inquest and does it mean that he was poisoned? The 12 January 1965 in East Middlesex was where the inquest was held. Any advice is grately appreciated. Thanks Lou

Sorry Looby, it probably means the barbiturates were self administered, otherwise it would say 'unlawfully killed'. Coroners don't keep records more than 25 years usually - although there are exceptions. Your best bet is probably to track down the local paper as inquests were routinely reported. OC

Some London inquest records held here: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/8BD3611E-10EE-4E45-875E-C60D047089C2/0/coronerinquests.pdf It explains that records closed for 75 years, but you can ask for written authorisation from the current Coroner to have access allowed

Hi OC, thanks for your comments, but I do know he did have a nurse who was supposed to be looking after him, and there was speculation that she intimated that she had married him although this was never proved, and again only speculation that she 'did away' with him. But I wasn't aware that inquests were in the local rag, so thanks for that valued bit of advice. Lou

Hi Looby, I found my coroners inquest for 1871 at the London Metropolitan Archives, where I was able to print it off. Check out their website catalogue to find if they have the coroners inquest records for the area you are interested in, failing which, try the local studies library for the area concerned, they will point you in the right direction. Good luck

Dear Looby, Coroner's reports can be 'unsettling'. They contain some VERY graphic details. M. Steer

Hi Trish, thanks for the tip I'll definately check it out. Hi Margaret, Thanks for your thoughtfullnes, it's most kind of you to let me know. I remember there being some talk about his suspicious death so am aware there might be something distastful in the report. But thanks again for letting me know. Lou

Is the verdict not on the death certificate? My grandmothers cause of death is given as 'Bronchopneumonia due to incised wound of throat (self inflicted)' then underneath it says 'She killed herself' I always thought that the verdict of an inquest was written on the certificate. Mind you, one of these days I will get the report of the inquest from the local paper.

Hi Janet, No it doesn't, it just states date of death and address where he died, name, age, occupation, cause of death as mentioned (open) I presume that means open verdict. Certificate recieved from coroner (name) for East Middlesex and date inquest held, when registered and the registrar's signature. He was supposed to have had someone looking after him at home the family believed it was a nurse, who was much younger and after his death claimed she married him, although she did not produce her marriage cert! Lou

Hello Lou. Another possibilty is that info from the inquest may have been publisehd in local papers, copies of which may be in local libraries and in the British Library archive at Colindale in North London Jim

When the inquest was held about our Son's death there were 2 members of the press there one was from the local evening paper and the other from the weekly free paper The law states they have to be there So the inquest you are asking about will have been reported in the local press for the area Bren

Hi Bren, & Hi Jim, thank you both for responding to my plea of help. I am now off to my local library to see if they can obtain the paper's for me, otherwise I will contact the local rag for the area. Thank you again to all who have helped me, it has been very informative and helpful. thanks and good hunting to you all, Lou