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 ......