[WED]Death/Manslaughter of Hannah NICHOLLS nee ROGERS, Wedmore, 1854

[Pat Hase]

Hi Susan,

Wow,  Hannah was my husband's great grandmother - I hadn't picked this 
up before so this is all news to me.  Yes, please,  if you have any more 
information I'd really like to have it.
Thanks for sharing this piece of information.
Pat

Susan Hembury-Kellow wrote:
> I thought other Wedmore list members might find the following news report
> useful.  It's from the Bridgwater Times, 9 Nov 1854, and concerns the
> untimely death of Hannah NICHOLLS nee ROGERS (bap 28 Aug 1806, Wedmore,
> Somerset, daughter of William ROGERS and Hannah VENN) at the hand of her son
> in law, Sandy CREASE/CREESE.  Sandy CREASE had married Elizabeth NICHOLLS
> (b. circa 1825, Wedmore) in 1847.  My own 3G Grandmother, Elizabeth HEMBRY
> nee ROGERS was a sister of the deceased; another of my 3G Grandmothers, Jane
> WRIDE nee CHAPPELL, was one of the witnesses at the inquest.  Another
> witness, Hannah HEMBRY (bap 1829, Wedmore) was a daughter of the deceased;
> Sophia ROGERS (bap 1820, Wedmore) was a sister of the deceased.  (If anyone
> would like further details, etc., please let me know).
>
> Best wishes, 
>
> Sue
>
> (Note: I've added paragraphs to make the piece easier to read).
>
> "WEDMORE
> An inquest was held here on the 30th ult. before B. FRY, Esq., coroner, on
> the body of Hannah NICHOLLS, Widow, aged 35 [Note: she was actually nearer
> 50. SHK].  It appeared in evidence that the daughter of the deceased had
> married a man by the name of Sandy CREASE, a laborer of that parish.
> CREASE's wife had reasons to be jealous, from a statement made to her that a
> female was in the family way by him.  On his return home, on the night of
> the 10th ultimo, from work, his wife told him of what she had heard, when he
> commenced beating her.  The deceased and several neighbours (named Hannah
> HEMBRY, Sophia ROGERS, and Jane WRIDE) hearing cries of "murder" in CREASE's
> house, ran to the spot, and the deceased called to her daughter to come out
> of the house or CREASE would murder her.  
>
> On hearing this, CREASE struck the deceased across the head with the
> gaiters, and afterwards with his fist in her left side, fracturing one of
> her ribs.  The deceased said at the time that she was done for, and previous
> to her death, that CREASE had killed her.  Witness HEMBRY tried to get her
> mother home, when CREASE struck her also a violent blow in the eye, which
> brought blood, and at the same time saying he would kill the deceased, his
> wife, and the witnesses HEMBRY, ROGERS and WRIDE before the night was over.
>
> The deceased, who was in perfect health before the blows were struck, was,
> according to the evidence of one of the witnesses, digging potatoes the same
> day, and did not apply for medical aid until the 15th ult., being desirous
> to screen her son-in-law.  Mr. SHARP and Mr. HANCOCK attended her, but she
> died on the 28th.  The medical evidence and post mortem examination by those
> gentlemen went to show that the fifth rib was fractured, that there was
> inflammation of the pleura, and that the deceased died from the effects of
> typhus fever (of which there had been many cases in the neighbourhood),
> aggravated not only by the previous injury received, but rendered more
> dangerous from the effects of the treatment required to reduce the
> inflammation caused by the fractured rib.
>
> The Jury, consisting of fourteen most respectable men, deliberated about
> half an hour, and then returned an unanimous verdict of "Manslaughter".
> CREASE, who was much distressed at his painful situation, was then committed
> by the Coroner to Wilton Gaol, to take his trial at the next assizes."
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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