The Written History of the Upper Eastern Shore of Maryland for Talbot, Kent, Queen Anne's and Caroline Counties.







Cororner's Inquests


Whatever Happened to ......


Cororner's Inquests of Queen Anne's County

Date
Name
Place of Inquisition
Cause of Death
12-1880
George Grinnage, colored
death due to exposure to the weather on Saturday night, being frozen
11-17-1880
Sarah Jane Warwick
by burning
11-17-1880
Josephine Frisby
by burning
11-17-1880
John Frisby
by burning
11-17-1880
Millie Frixby
by burning
5-25-1881
Jesse Heath, colored
Kent Island
died in a natural way, no marks of violence
6-1-1880
unknown white man
Kent Island
cause of death unknown
3-29-1881
Julia A. Bordley
Simon Bordley's
asplysia
12-28-1881
William Hampton
Kent Island
by the charge of a gun in his own hand, willingly taking his own life
6-14-1881
unknown white man
Kent Island
cause of death unknown
3-19-1882
unknown white man
Kent Island
cause of death unknown
12-4-1881
John Wright,  colored
Kent Island
blow or blows administered with a stick or club in the hands of an unknown person
6-1881
Joshua Harvey, colored
near Crumpton
apoplexy
4-5-1882
Julia Lambdin
natural way by visitation of god
1-27-1882
Ephraim K. Dill
Templeville
in his home, gunshot wound by Levi Scott on Jan 14th near Hollandsville, Delaware
1-9-1882
Barney Hutchins
near Burisville
natural causes
10-28-1881
unknown colored man
Bennetts Point
drowning, 5 1/2 feet, dark complexion, blue coat, calico shirt, dark cotton pants, nothing on his person except 4 wooden oar locks
5-2-1883
unknown white man
Kent Island
unknown causes, no marks of identification except two letters C.B. on his left arm
7-29-1883
unknown colored man
Kent Island
unknown causes 
7-30-1883
unknown colored man
Kent Island
unknown causes 
7-30-1883
unknown colored man
Kent Island
unknown causes 
8-4-1883
William Robinson, colored
Benjamin F. Legg did feloniously in the groins and privates inflict a mortal wound with a shot gun, William Robinson did die within 2 hours after the shot before he could be taken to his home - murder
8-5-1883
Kate Williams, colored
near Scottstown
a pistol ball shot from a pistol in the hands of Mary Francis Homier, colored, according to evidence heard, pistol ball hit the left side of the head entering the brain
6-14-1883
unknown white man
Kent Island
unknown cause
11-20-1881
John Barrett
Gustavus Porter home
natural way by visitation of god
5-3-1884
Elizabeth Wheeler, colored
at home, Centreville
heart trouble
11-11-1883
unknown black man
Kent Point, Kent Island
cause unknown
11-27-1883
unknown black man
Long Point, Kent Island
cause unknown
3-31-1884
unknown white man
Kent Island on bay shore
cause unknown
4-15-1884
unknown white man
Kent Island on bay shore
cause unknown
4-5-1884
unknown white man
Kent Island on bay shore
cause unknown
3-27-1889
Andrew
Kent Island
cause unknown
5-2-1889
unknown
Kent Island
cause unknown
1-28-1889
Nicholas Woods
Kent Island
cause unknown
9-29-1888
unknown
Kent Island
cause unknown
9-13-1888
Ernest Kirby
Spencers Wharf
gunshot wound in the right side of the body accidently received while riding in a carriage with John Carey
12-7-1888
Levin Perry, colored
Centreville
cause unknown
6-11-1890
James Miller
Hope
Edward Downes, colored, alias Edward Clayton shot James Miller with a pistol in the right shoulder and through the windpipe. The following testimony of James Miller, colored, that Edward Downes did on the 5th day of June 1890 shoot me with the intent to kill.  Seeing him coming towards me with a pistol in his hand I ran to escape him but overtaking me he shot me in he shoulder. Finding I could not escape him I turned and chased him to disarm him when he fired again striking me in the throat then firng again he missed me and continued snaping at me on empty chambers until I took the pistol away from him
6-16-1890
John Dibbern
Whitehouse Farm
falling from a tree
10-14-1889
Washington Walls
N.E. Benton home
found dead in the yard of N.E. Benton, he had no marks of violence appearing upon his body, death in a natural way from some kind of heart trouble
11-21-1890
William Somers
Kent Island
accidental drowning
10-6-890
unknown man
Kent Island
cause unknown
10-25-1890
unknown man
Kent Island
cause of death believed to be drowning
10-20-1890
unknown man
Kent Island
cause of death believed to be drowning
6-29-1890
James Callahan
Kent Island
accidentally drowned
6-18-1891
unknown white man
Kent Island
supposed accidental drowning
1-15-1890
unknown colored man
Chambers Wharf
came to his death by drowning, cause unknown there being no marks of violence upon his body. Found near Chambers Wharf, Chester River, supposed to be about ten days in the water
9/23/1892
William H. Handy, colored
near Ashland Station
by an engine on the QA RR between the hours of 9 & 10 p.m. Sept 22nd 1892 between Ashland and Price's stations believing said to have been driving and asleep on the track. We exhonorate the RR Co. of all blame as all precautions were taken by the RR Co. as we deem in an accident. Witnesses that gave depositions: Ludlow Gafford, Emory Clough, John L. Foreman, Caharin Wright, George Clarey, Hary Handy, Sarah Stansbery, Mary E. Gibs, J.O. Hitch
6-3-1892
unknown white man
Kent Island
supposed to be about 30 yrs old with nothing by which he could be identified, dressed in sailor clothes then and there lying dead upon the bay shore of the farm of Asbury Greaves.  Manner and cause of death unknown.
4-27-1892
Blunt Williams, colored
near Centreville
found lying dead on the farm known as Corsica; suddenly died from valvular disease of the heart
4-30-1892
unknown white man
shore at the foot of Coxes Neck on Kent Island
found lying on the shore, unknown to anyone; about 5 ft 8-10 in, supposed to be about 30-35 yrs old with name on his left arm in Indian ink W.A. Culver with double heart below the name with spear through the hearts, on the right arm in ink a woman on star and on right hand an anchor also in ink, with no mark of violence visible. Death from unknown causes.
8-12-1891
R.J. Satterfield
Sudlersville
by falling from the top of a car while working a flying switch, cause of death purely accidently
12-3-1892
Thomas Stewart, colored
Bowsertown
by a gunshot wound discharged from a gun while in the house of Edward Bowser unintentionally without malice and accidental
8-24-1892
Isaiah Kirby, infant
Centreville
came to his death the 23rd day of August 1892 from causes unknown
12-13-1892
James Arthur Teat
Church Hill
by a gun in the hands of John W. McFarland the shooting being purely accidental and we further exonerate the said John W. McFarland from any inent to do any injury whatsoever to the said person
10-26-1891
unknown man
Kent Island
by accidental drowning
9-30-1892
James Carey, colored
Centreville
was a prisoner in the jail at Centreville, cause of death by a visitation of God and came to his death by…. Paper torn
8-24-1892
Anna Maria Kirby
Centreville
causes unknown to this jury
8-24-1892
Louis Kirby
Centreville
causes unknown to this jury
2-28-1892
Theodore Johns
Kent Island
accidental drowning
3-4-1893
Jesse H. Adams
Ford's Store
as we believe his name to be, from evidence in a book found  on his person; he was fouly dealt with and that he was struck with some sharp instrument and either fell or was thrown overboard by some person or persons unknown; the deceased man was about 40 ears old, rather stout built, weight about 150 lbs height 5'6" old scar on the right cheek from ear to end of lower jaw, looks like an old cut, hole or hollow over the left eye about 1" across, hole at the joint of forehead and nose looks like bullet hole, nose broke, large scalp wound on left side and back of head about 4" long - these last three Dr. Davidson says are fres wounds and he thinks they were the cause of death.  He was dressed in cotton undershirt with heavy blue striped overshirt coat and vest of dark mixed goods diagonal dark plaid pants, small plaid - in his pocket was found a pass book in it written Jessie H. Adams 201 ParkinSt cor Pratt, George Thomas worked for Mr. Riebold on the Riebold farm, commenced work for Snyder July 5th Arnold paid me $20 Miss Jennie Horstruce 552 Union Street near Penn
5-23-1892
unknown man
Kent Island
accidental drowning
2-7-1893
Charles G. Temple
Sudlersville
on the 7th day of February 1893 by commiting suicide by hanging himself voluntarily and feloniously in the horse stable of Richard Pinder
5-19-1894
Walter Pippin
Prices Station
on the 19th day of May 1894 on the public road from Prices Station to Roesville about one mile from Price's Station where the body was found lying between the shaft of buggy and wheel, cause of death was strangled to death
4-18-1894
George Leager
home of deceased
was killed on Wed April 18th 1894 near his home on Round Top farm, 7th Dist, by a bullet fired from a pistol in the hands of William Jackson, colored. Autopsy was made by Dr. Weedon and Finley - the result of which was found the bullet entered the large artery leading from the heart and was necessarily fatal.
12-12-1893
William Fletcher Bias, colored
Centreville
the 11th day of December James Edward Lester, colored, feloniously, volunteerly and of malice aforethought did strike William Fletcher Bias in the head with an ax inflicting a mortal would of which he instantly died so the said Lester feloniously killed and murdered the deceased
11-12-1893
Joseph Davis, negro
Centreville
by natural causes
10-14-1892
John Nickilson
Kent Island
from heart disease
8-27-1895
Richard Simms
Wye Farm
colored man of middle age dressed in blue overalls and colored shirt andheavy boots - died at night while crossing Wye River in a small boat, was accidently drowned - found on the shore of John Bishop
10-13-1894
Samuel J. Tolson
Templeville
no marks of violence appearing upon his body and died by the visitation of God in a natural way - dying of assification of the caronary artery, angina pectoris
10-27-1892
unknown man
Kent Island
accidental drowning
2-21-1895
Walter Robinson, colored
Kent Island
on the farm of Mrs. Lillie Ringgold occupied by John P. Roe as a tenant in Coxes Neck on Kent Island - a certain William Carroll, colored, by the careless use of a double barrel shot gun did on the 20th of Feb caused the explosion of same and the death of Walter Robinson resulted from the effects of a gun shot wound in the hands of William Carroll from evidence given while they cannot attribute any criminal or malicous intent on the part of William Carroll as they were comrads and friends
3-7-1896
Samuel M. Rash
near Haden
at the residence of the deceased, came to his death on the night of March 6th in the dining room of his home near Haydens by mortal wounds inflicted in his left side by shot feloniously and wilfully fired from a gun in the hands of some person unknown, this unknown person did kill and murder the said Rash against the peace and dignity of the State of Maryland
11-19-1893
unknown man
Kent Island
accidental drowning
10-10-1895
unknown man
Kent Island
unknown causes supposed to be drowned
5-10-1896
unknown man
Kent Island
 on the shore of Dr. John R. Benton; unknown cause supposed to be drowned
5-6-1896
unknown man
Kent Island
unknown causes supposed to be drowned
2-8-1896
unknown colored man
Kent Island
unknown causes supposed to be accidental drowning
10-29-1894?
unknown man
Kent Island
at W.T. Blunt's; unknown causes supposed to be drowned
10-7-1895
Jesse Moulton
Queenstown
on the farm and at the dwelling house of Dr. W.K. Carroll; a certain W.K. Carroll feloniously and voluntarily shot the said Jesse Moulton in the head inflicting a mortal wound, Carroll did delibertately murder the said Jesse Moulton; Dr. Cockran was summoned to inspect the wounds, William Jones colored and Emma Anderson were summoned to testify
5-26-1896
unknown white man
Kent Island
he had on his person $5.03, death by unknown causes
11-5-1896
unknown white man
shore of Hobbs farm
about 5'8" tall, dark brown hair, body well nourished, clad with blue outside clothen white …page torn….stocking, heavy brogam shoes; uner jaw badly disenlegrated left under jaw void of molars, …… weght about 160 lbs, possibly more, nothing on the body in the ...... no indian ink or oher marks. From external appearances he was fouly and feloniously death with and further on section of the body evidence we're positive that he was dead, breathing had ceased before he was placed or drown into the water, the lungs were collapsed containing no water. There was evidence of an auto mortel blow on the left side of the neck from beneath the left ear obliginely downonwards with indication of the throad having been cut. 
11-29-1896
William Cane, colored
home of deceased
death from natural causes
6-22-1896
unknown white man
Kent Island
the said man was in such condition that it was impossible to asscertain as how he came to his death, he had $76.50 on his person; death from unknown causes
9-11-1896
John Mullikin
home of deceased
by a mortal would inflicted in his left breast to the depth of about nine inches and the breadth of two inches caused by shot from a gun fired by Percy Mullikin in self defense; and what the said Percy Mullikin so acting in self defenxe was justified in firing the said shot and inflicting the said wound which caused the death of John Mullikin - the killing was justified and excusable homicide
6-27-1896
Sarah Simpson
Centreville
the 26th day of June Sarah Simpson was found dead in her home near Centreville; that she had no marks of violence appearing upon her body, her death we believe was from paralysis of the heart and not otherwise
8-9-1897
Jane Boardley, colored
home of Green Gouldsbury
death from heart failure, no evidence of violence whatsoever
7-15-1897
male child
Sudlersville
at the home of Agnes Radcliff in the town of Sudlersville, death to be determined from cholera infantium
9-19-1898
William P. Tanner
Kent Island
On the 19th day of Sept 1898 William P. Tanner did commit suicide by hanging himself voluntarily and feloniously
10-13-1898
George S. Liggins
Winchester
on the 9th day of October in Chester River near the mouth of Queenstown Creek George Liggins came to his death by causes unknown to us.
8-12-1897
John Blake
home of deceased
having no marks of violence appearing upon his body and died from natural causes and not otherwise
5-1-1898
John Curtis, colored
Kent Island
there lying dead upon the creek shore of Mrs. Arianna Denny in Coxes Creek on Kent Island, on the 18th day of April 1898 while on a schooner called McGuire of which Capt. Chas N. Porter is owner, then lyhing above Timber Landing in Coxes Creek it is supposed from the evidence of William Tabb and Joseph Collins that the said John Curtis, colored, accidently fell overboard and was drowned, no assistance then offered, as he was the only one on board the vessel at the time.
12-19-1898
Henry Pollard
Centreville
on the 19th of December was found dead; that he had no marks of violence appearing upon his body and died by the visitation of God in a natural way and not otherwise
9-19-1898
W.H. Usilton
Queenstown
from being accidently struck by Engine No. 2 of QA RR at Bloomingdale crossing, he failing to observe signals given by officers on duty as sworn before us, we exhonorate the said officers from blame
6-4-1899
unknown colored man
Kent Island
through accidental drowning as far as their knowledge goes
11-18-1899
John Sanderson
James Powells
unknown causes
7/30/1900
Solomon Roberts
The Hermitage
died on the 27th day of July by foul means at the hand of some party unknown to the jury the result of wounds found to have been inflicted on the head which were sufficient to cause instant death
8/30/1900
John Smith
Guys
on about Monday the 27th of August in Wye River by accidental drowning
12/13/1900
Jerome Watkins, colored
Kent Island
by accidently drowning
3/22/1900
James P. McGovern
3rd District
instantly died with heart trouble, no marks of violence on his body and died by the visitation of God in a natural way
4/8/1901
Chesterfield T. Tilghman
Blakeford
A certain Elizabeth Campbell alias Wilson feloniously voluntarily and of malice aforethought shot the said Tilghman in the left side of his face with a shot gun of which mortal wound the said Tilghman then and there instantly died, therefore Elizabeth Campbell alias Wilson felonously killed and murdered the said Tilghman
8/17/1901
Edgar Godwin
Newnam's Wharf
the body lying on the shore of Chester River within a hundred yards north of Newnam's Wharf who on the 15th did die of accidental drowning
5/26/1902
Ella Sommers and Thomas Booker
Queen Anne (town)
a railroad owned and operated by the QA RR Co did rundown and kill the said Ella Sommers and Thomas Booker on a trustle bridge the property of the said RR Co, while they were walking on and over the said trustle bridge was accidently rundown and killed - we exonerate the said RR Co.
6/23/1902
George Shepperd, colored
Queenstown
by being struck by Engine No. 3 of the QA RR Co and that the accident was unavoidable on the part of the RR Co employees
9/7/1902
child, colored
near Barclay
 little colored child one month old came by his death by suffocation resulting from an accident; summons were sent to Syles Myres, Sarah Butler and James E. Golley M.D.
12/22/1902
unknown white man
Kent Island
causes unknown to this jury
4/22/1903
Mariah Green, colored
near Church Hill
natural causes
7/26/1903
James Washington
Guys
on about Sunday the 26th in Wye River by accidental drowning
4/5/1903
Stansbury Whitely
Templeville
by apoplexy on the 5th day of April
1/18/1905
John Young, colored
Ewingtown
natural causes
2/21/1905
James Brown, colored
Starkeys Corner
home of James Brown; commited suicide by shooting himself with a pistol in his home
11/26/1909
Ellsworth Williams
shore of W. Lloyd Fords home farm
accidently drowning in the Chester River
4/20/1905
Moses Wilson
Winchester
on the 19th day of April by accidental drowning in Eastern Bay
12/12/1905
James R. Price
Kent Island
on his farm in Crab Alley Neck; the 6th day of December at 6 o'clock pm a certain Blanche Lane feloniously and voluntarily did assault and kill the deceased with a stick or similar instrument - murdered by Blanche Lane
11/28/1909
John Watson
shore of Wm. Lloyd Ford's home farm
on the 25th day of November did accidently drown in the Chester River
8/13/1909
Roman
Sudlersville
on the 13th at the cannery in Sudlersville Roman came to his death by strangulation with a rope by his own hands; witnesses Dr. Foster Sudler, Harry Peters, Henry Krouse, Alex Rusky, John E. George
4/12/1909
Isaac Teat
Bell View farm
on the 9th day of April in the Wye River by accidental drowning
2/11/1910
Benjamin Crowner
Burrisville
an autopsy of the body determined heart failure induced by exposure, he was seen to drop down by the wayside and died immediately, had been living alone, no fire, no apparent means of substitence in the old shack
2/17/1910
Louis P. Dudley
Centreville
accidently caused by taking an overdose of laudnum and ginger which he used for medicinal purposes
2/4/1910
John W. Quait
Winchester
found lying dead on the M.D. & V RR right away near Winchester  being accidentally killed by the Engine of the said RR on the 3rd day of Feb
Copied from the original records at the Queen Anne's County Courthouse
Some recently discovered inquisitions ......








4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are there other dates too?

Cindy Schmidt said...

What is presented are all of the original bundles found at the courthouse. Some earlier records found in a ledger have been published.

JAMES TILGHMAN said...

CHESTERFIELD IS MY GRANDFATHER'S (EDWARD TILGHMAN) YOUNGER BROTHER. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS WITHOUT RESULTS. WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP IN FINDING WHAT HAPPENED TO LIZZIE CAMPBELL. (ALIAS WILSON)
I CAN BE REACHED AT 904-683-8596. I USED TO COME DOWN TO THE SHORE FROM BALTIMORE FOR THE SUMMER TO SPEND WITH MY GRANDMOTHER. I NOW LIVE IN FLORIDA.

THANK YOU,

JAMES TILGHMAN

JAMES T. said...

Anonymous JAMES TILGHMAN said...
CHESTERFIELD IS MY GRANDFATHER'S (EDWARD TILGHMAN) YOUNGER BROTHER. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS WITHOUT RESULTS. WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP IN FINDING WHAT HAPPENED TO LIZZIE CAMPBELL. (ALIAS WILSON)
I CAN BE REACHED AT 904-683-8596. I USED TO COME DOWN TO THE SHORE FROM BALTIMORE FOR THE SUMMER TO SPEND WITH MY GRANDMOTHER. I NOW LIVE IN FLORIDA.

THANK YOU,

JAMES TILGHMAN

January 22, 2017 at 7:30 PM