The sudden death of William Clarke 1845

[Alan7636]

Hello folks 

This concerns one William Clarke who was killed following a brawl in a Brothel in the St Michael's district of Lincoln on 24th December 1845.

His death certificate states he was 30 years of age and a labourer. Death was caused by a ‘wound on the head’ and the informant was the City Coroner, Mr Hitchins.   

I believe William was buried on 27th December 1845 at St Michael on the Mount, Lincoln, no age was given.

The only other piece of information I have is a short paragraph from the Morning Chronicle dated the 30th December 1845, this describes the brawl and those involved and gives additional information that Clarke was Assistant to the contractor for sweeping the streets.

The above is the sum total of the information I have on William, I know not from where he came or if he had a family etc but any additional details out there in publications, family history or local knowledge and so on would be gratefully appreciated.

I’m not expecting miracles from this posting simply because the above details are so sparse, but who knows, Rootschatters have been known to conjure up answers from the smallest of information 

Many thanks

Alan

[Geoff-E]

There was
 
1841
St Marys St
William CLARK 24 20 Laborer
Mary 22 20

1851
Wards Passage, St Swithin
Mary CLARK (wid) 32 Washerwoman, Lissington
Mary 4 Lincoln
Harriet 7 Lincoln
Ann 9 Lincoln

Harriet bap 3 April 1842 St Mary le Wigford (William and Mary)
Mary bap 27 Dec 1846 St Swithin (William Thacker CLARK and Mary)

Curses! William Thacker CLARK buried 1848 Washingborough aged 30

[Alan7636]

Hello Geoff   

Thanks for that, looks a far better bet than the William Clarke  age 20 and Mary Clarke 30 living in St Martins that I found. The problem is the age on the death cert could well be wrong, it could have been given to the coroner as heresay.

I've already spent a few hours in the Lincoln Library  searching through the Lincoln Mercury newspaper micro film for 1845 but the copy was so poor I never came across  an article for the inquest. Since then I have found the date of the perpetrators trial at Lincoln Assizes so I might make another trip in the New Year.

One thing the article in the Chronicle did say was that the Inquest lasted 5 hours, any idea if Lincoln Archives keep Inquest records from the mid 19th century?

Alan

[Geoff-E]

One thing the article in the Chronicle did say was that the Inquest lasted 5 hours, any idea if Lincoln Archives keep Inquest records from the mid 19th century?

Hi Alan

Almost certainly the records no longer exist

[Alan7636]

I thought as much Geoff, I did a search on the Archives web site and the actual coroners and Inquest records they hold is rather adhoc, a number from the 18th cent. the odd 1 or 2 from the 19th & 20th.

LFHS have 2 CD's for Lincolnshire Inquests but these do not cover Lincoln although Vol 2 does have reports from the Mercury for 1844-1851 and the index does show a Clarke in that so might send for it 

You never know perhaps a rellie of his will see this posting   

Alan

[Geoff-E]

  ... a Brothel in the St Michael's district of Lincoln ...

I thought I would investigate the area ...

In 1841 I find three or four "lodging houses" in Bullring Passage which each have several young ladies whose occupations are "Ind".  These appear to have been altered from the original occupations.

One of those houses in 1851 has a couple of "visiting" Dressmakers, one from Nottingham, one from Peterborough

[Alan7636]

  ... a Brothel in the St Michael's district of Lincoln ...

I thought I would investigate the area ...

Not in person I should hope 

Alan 

[Geoff-E]

  ... a Brothel in the St Michael's district of Lincoln ...

I thought I would investigate the area ...

Not in person I should hope 

Alan 

Oh, I was in disguise ... no one would have recognised me.

[Alan7636]

Oh, I was in disguise ... no one would have recognised me.

A brave man  and just in the persuit of historical research of course 

Suprising the number of establishments in that area tha had a female "Lodging House Keeper" with 3 or 4 young women of "Independent means"