City of Westminster Coroners:
Coroners' Inquests into Suspicious Deaths
CW | IC

14th January 1764 - 24th December 1764

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Currently Held: Westminster Abbey Muniment Room

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Image 7 of 50514th January 1764


another House maid that she saw said Ann Gascoine< no role > take something covered
up in her Apron, which she could not see, down Stairs that Morning,
that said Ann Gascoine then went down the Kitchen Stairs towards the [..]
Area, where the Necessary Houses, but did not see her go into the
Necessary House, Deponent says that she thereupon went to the
Necessary House, to see if she could discover any thing, (having
reason to believe that said Ann Gascoine< no role > had miscarried) says that
she then found the Deced in the Necessary House, with the Head
downwards, who gave orders that no Person should touch it, says that the
Deced remained in the Necessary House until the Evening about Seven
O'Clock, when some Persons sent by Sr. John Fielding< no role > come there and
took the Deced out, Deponent says that she was then present, and
that the deced was then Dead, but that she observed no Marks of
Violence thereupon. Deponent says that Sir John Fielding< no role > was sent
for to Lady Tyrconnel, and that he there Examined said Ann Gascoine
"says that said Gascoine owned her having been delivered of the Deced
"but that she was born Dead, that said Ann Gascoine brought the Deced
"down Stairs but did not intend to throw Deced into the Necessary house
"says that on hearing somebody coming towards her, said Ann
"Gascoine didthrewput Deced into the Necessary House where [..]
"was afterwards found. Deponent says that said Ann Gascoine< no role >
never acquainted her, or any other Person to her Knowledge, of her
being with Child. Says that on Searching Said Ann Gascoine's Box
Deponent found a Shirt there, and said Ann Gascoine informed
her that there was a Cap there, which said Ann Gascoine had propar [..]
for a Child.

Elizabeth Ford< no role >

Ann Bell< no role > Servant to Lady Tyrconnel in the Capacity of House Maid
on her Oath saith, that on Wednesday Evening last Ann Gascoine< no role > [..]
to Lady Tyrconnel, went to Bed very ill, that she laid in Bed until
Friday Morning, when said Gascoine came down Stairs, and then
looked very pale, Says that on going yesterday Morning to make said Gascoine
Bed, she had reason to believe that Gascoine: had miscarried, and
acquainted Mrs. Ford the House keeper therewith, says that Mrs. Ford
went down Stairs, and soon after returned, and informed Deponent that
she had Charged said Ann Gascoine< no role > with having miscarried, and then
she denied it, says that said Mrs. Ford immediately went down Stairs
again and found the Deced in the Necessary House, and having

informed Deponent thereof Deponent went there and saw Deced
lye in the Necessary House with her head downwards, says that
the Deced remained there until the Evening when she was take
out by Persons sent from Sir John Fielding< no role > .

Ann Bell< no role >

Joseph Ferdinando Gillis< no role > Pupil to James Burnett< no role > of Lower
Grosvenor Street Surgeon , on his Oath saith that he this day Examined
the Body of the Deced and found no Marks of Violence thereon, says
that he believes the Deced was born several Weeks before her time
says that on opening the Thorax and examining the Lungs in a
Bowl of Water they Swam upon the Surface and did not Sink as
they would have done if the Child had not breathed, Says that
he is of Opinion the Child did Breath, tho' in an emaciate State?
Says that there was no Signature on the Navel String of the Deced.

Joseph Ferdinando Gillis< no role >

Sarah Godsby< no role > Servant to Lady Tyrconnel in the Capacity of
House Maid, on her Oath saith, that on Wednesday last Ann Gascoine
Cook to Lady Tyrconnel was taken ill, and complained of a Cold, says
that said Ann Gascoine went to Bed early that Evening, and laid [..]
Bed all day on Thursday, and until yesterday Morning, Deponent
says that she saw said Ann Gascoine several times during that time
and that she lay in another Bed in the same Room with Gascoine,
says that on enquiring how Gascoine did, she always answered she
was much better, Says that on friday Morning between ten and eleven
O'Clock Deponent being in the Hall saw said Ann Gascoine< no role > coming down Stairs with
something in her Apron covered up, which she carried towards [..] the
Laundrey, but Deponent could not see where she went afterwards
says that sometime after Ann Bell< no role > the other House Maid went up Stairs to make the
said Ann Gascoine's Bed, and was soon followed by the House Keeper
Deponent says that she soon after had occasion to go up Stairs was
called by the House keeper into the Garret, (wheresaid Ann Gascoine< no role >
used to lye) Says that they saw reason to think that somebody had
miscarried there upon which the House keeper went down Stairs, and soon
after returned, and said, she had charged said Gascoine with having
miscarried, which she denied, Says that they afterwards come down
and the House keeper went into the Necessary House and returned
immediately almost fainting, Deponent then went into the Necessary House
and observed the Deced lying Naked in the Soil contained therein,
with her face down wards, Deponent says that the Deced remained
there until the Evening when the Deced was taken out, says that she
saw Deced soon after, then it was Dead, but she observed no Marks




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