Sophia Western

343

Maureen Withey on 3rd May 2023

Permission to Marry. Gasper Tunn, per Mariner 1, age 39, 7 years, Free; and Sophia Western, age 28, 7 years, Bond. Requested at Sutton Forest, 26 Oct 1832. by Clergyman, Mr. J. Layton. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NSW Convict Index. Sophia Western, per Burrell, 1832, Certificate of Freedom, 7 Aug 1839. No 39/1230. Wife of Jasper Tunn of Argyle (as stated on her CF) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- In the case of Mrs. Tunn, aged 57, who, as lately reported, was severely burned a few days ago, in the Goulburn district, the injuries proved fatal, and the Chronicle reports an inquest on the body ;—Laura Leatham, residing with her father about a quarter of a mile from Tunn's place, deposed that deceased came over to her father's place on Tuesday morning ; she was then quite well ; between 11 and 12 o'clock , witness received a message from her, asking her to come over directly, as she thought she was going to die ; she immediately went over to Tunn's place, but before reaching the house she perceived the smell of cotton, and observed great smoke arising from the kitchen ; on going to the door, she saw deceased lying on the floor in front of the fire-place, with her clothes all on fire ; she was screaming violently then, and continued to do so for some time afterwards ; seeing her in this state, witness threw three or four buckets of water over her, and thus extinguished the fire ; she then ran home and told her father, who came over at once, witness following soon afterwards ; deceased was then still screaming, but gradually ceased to do so, but continued to moan for a considerable time ; she was never sensible from the time witness saw her in this state ; when witness first came over there was no one about the premises but deceased ; there was a fire in the kitchen fire-place, near where deceased lay ; she appeared to have been baking, as there was a loaf in the iron pot in the fire place, and a small fire over it ; witness's father went in search of deceased's husband as quickly as he could, and witness remained with deceased till her death. The jury returned a verdict of death by burning, but that how the deceased became burnt there was no evidence to show. Whilst proceeding to the funeral at Bungonia, the husband, Jasper Tunn, was thrown from a gig and run over ; the injuries inflicted, though not dangerous, were sufficiently serious to require surgical assistance. Empire, (Sydney) 28 Feb 1860. --------------------------------------------------------------------- SUDDEN DEATH AND INQUEST —On Monday (says the Goulburn Chronicle) the coroner held an inquest at Mulengullengong, near Bungonia, on the body of Jasper Tunn, who had lately occupied a farm in that neighbourhood, and who had been found dead in his bed on Sunday morning. From the evidence adduced, it appeared that deceased had lost his wife about eighteen months ago, and had recently sold his farm. Since then he had been living pretty constantly with a Mr. James, a farmer and neighbour, and had been complaining for some time of pains —Dr. Strang, of Cogenburgh, deposed to having recently prescribed for the deceased, who was suffering from dyspepsia, and stated it as his opinion that he died from apoplexy, and no other cause. Empire, (Sydney) 7 Sep 1861.