West Evans

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D Wong on 6th July 2017

16/8/1817 Northampton Mercury Northamptonshire, England: West Evans and Charles Evans, for a burglary in the dwelling house of John Thompson, Warwick. Charles Evans was also on board Neptune. 1831: TOL Port Macquarie 25/10/1831: Permission to marry Elizabeth Smith (Kains) West was 35 and Elizabeth 30. no children listed on BDM. 1840: TOL Maitland 7/5/1843: West Evans died. 13/5/1843 Maitland Mercury: ACCIDENTAL DEATH.-On Wednesday last an inquest was held at the house of Mr. James Young, the Queen's Arms, High-street, before J. S. Parker, Esq., coroner, on the body of a man named West Evans, a carpenter, and ticket of leave holder. It appeared from the evidence which was adduced that on Monday last the deceased and two other men called in at Mr. Young's, and had a glass of rum each ; from thence they went to Mr. Brackenreg's, and had a glass each there ; they then went on to Mr. Court's public house, where they fell in with a few friends, and continued drinking for some time; after which they returned to Mr. Young's, and each had another glass. They then wanted Fix this textsome more on trust, which was refused ; the man who fetched and paid for the liquor was sober. The companions of the deceased went away, leaving him in the taproom unknown to Mr. Young, but on the latter going to shut up his house at nine o'clock at night he found the deceased there quite drunk, and knowing him to be a harmless sort of man, he thought it would be better to allow him to remain in the taproom all night than to turn him into the street in so helpless a condition. The fire was accordingly put out, and everything done to prevent any danger arising. At a late hour in the night Mrs. Young, who was in the next room, heard, the deceased groaning, and perceived a very disagreeable smell, upon which she called Mr. Young, who opened the taproom door, and the body of the man immediately rose up in a flame. Mr. Young procured a blanket, and threw it over the man to extinguish the fire. Dr. Harrington was immediately sent for, and notwithstanding his attention the man died about mid-day on Tuesday. No evidence appeared as to how the deceased had taken fire, and the only probable supposition is that it was occasioned from a hot coke in his pipe, which he had in his pocket. Under these circumstances the jury returned a verdict of accidently burnt to death while in a state of intoxication. The coronor stated that the conduct of Mr. Young throughout the melancholy occurrence was highly praiseworthy and humane.