Thomas Thompson

343

Maureen Withey on 10th June 2021

INQUESTS. ----------o---------- An inquest was held on Monday, 22nd December, at the house of Thomas Thompson, Yellow Rock, before R. B. Fry, Esq., coroner, and the following jury :- Messrs. Andrew M'Gill, John Raferty, Michael Boylar, Patrick Monday, James Swan, Edward Swan, and Edward Hazleton ; touching the death of Jane Thompson. The following evidence was given :- Thomas Thompson stated : I am a sawyer by trade. I live at the Yellow Rock. The deceased, Jane Thompson, was my wife; she was about sixty-six years of age. On Saturday, the 20th instant, deceased had her breakfast with me, and appeared in her usual health. After breakfast I went to my work. I left deceased in the house with her grandchild, a girl of about five years of age. I returned to the house in about ten minutes. I found my wife lying on the sofa, she was then in a fit. The child was standing beside her at the sofa. She told me that her mammy was sick, and that she was red in the face. The child then said she had a great mind to cooey for me, but did not, as she saw me coming towards the house, I sat down alongside of her, and fixed the pillows under her head. She remained about ten minutes under this fit without speaking to me. When she did speak, she said that she felt very unwell. I gave her some water, which she drank; after doing which she threw up her breakfast, and spoke in a foolish manner to the child. I left her on the sofa. She remained there for about six hours. I left a woman and some man in the house when I went for Mrs. Boylan. Mrs. Harding, who was in the house, wished me to do so. Mrs. Boylan ran from her house before me, and my wife was dead before she got there. Deceased was subject to fits for fourteen years. The last fit she had before the one she died in took place about six weeks since. To a juror: She constantly spoke incoherently after these fits. I saw no froth come from her mouth this, time. I did on other occasions. Caroline Harding stated : I am a married woman. I live with my husband at the Yellow Rock. On Saturday last, the 20th instant, James Thompson, son of the deceased, came for me, saying, there is something the matter with mother, will you come to our place? He went farther on and I came to the deceased's house, and saw Mr. Thompson, he said his woman was very bad in a fit. I went to see her. I thought she was dying. I sat with her a bit, and told them to send for a doctor, they thought there was no need for doing so, and said she was getting better fast, that they had seen her worse. I remained with her about half an hour. She was then breathing hard, and her face looked of a purple color. She died in half an hour after I first saw her. Margaret Boylan stated: I live in the next house, but one, to Thompson's. Mr. Thompson sent for me on Saturday, the 20th instant. I came as fast as I could, in about five minutes, and when I got to the house, Mrs. Thompson was dead. I am acquainted with the Thompsons for fifteen years. I heard that Mrs. Thompson was subject to fits. I never saw her in one of them, but often soon after, when she always apparently unwell. Deceased was of temperate habits. I never knew of any accident to happen to her. She was between sixty and seventy years old. George Henry Hamilton stated: I am a duly qualified medical practitioner. On Monday, the 22nd December, I was summoned by the coroner, to give evidence at an inquest, to be held at the Yellow Rock, on the body of a female, named Thompson. I examined the external surface of the body of the deceased, which was fast approaching to a state of decomposition. From what I have seen, and also the evidence I have heard, and general formation of the body, age, and general habits, I am of opinion that the deceased died of serous apoplexy, accelerated no doubt by exposure to the heat of the sun. To a Juror: I believe that all her previous fits had a tendency to apoplexy, and that no medical aid could have been of any service to her at this time. The jury returned a verdict of death from " Serous Apoplexy." Examiner, (Kiama, NSW), 30 Dec 1862.

343

Maureen Withey on 10th June 2021

Convict Index. Jane James, per Lucy Davidson, 1829, Certificate of Freedom, 19 Oct 1835. 35/1167. Wife of Thomas Thompson, per Castle Forbes, 1824, fbs. (as stated on her CF).

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 5th April 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Indent No; 66 Name; Thomas Thompson Age; 20 [1806] Native Place; London Trade or calling; Glass cutter Trial where & Date; Cork. Aug 1823. Sentence; 7 years Height; 5 ft. 9 1/4 in Eyes; Green Hair; Brown Completion; Fair Behaviour on Board - Well Assigned; Geo Harper **********************