City and Liberty
of Westminster }
to wit

Informations of Witnesses taken this 25th,
day of July 1772 , in the Parish of St. George
Hanover Square in the Liberty of Westminster
at the Dwelling House of Mr. John Skait< no role >
the Sign of the Marquis of Granby at Abery
Farm near Chelsea Bridge. Before Thomas
Prickard< no role > Gentleman His Majesty's Coronor
for the said City and Liberty, touching the
Death of Benjamin Burch< no role > then and there
lying Dead, as follow

Benjamin Grindall< no role > of St. John Street on his Oath says that yesterday
between 3 & 4 o'Clock in the Afternoon he went with the Deced and
one Mr. Charles Clutterbuck< no role > into the Creek of Water near the Flood Gates
Chelsea , in Order to Bathe, the Deced kept rather near the Shore
could swim a little, the Deponent and Mr. Clutterbuck in about to
Minutes got out to refresh, and then saw the Deced had got near the
Middle of the River by a Barge, Says he was then out of his Depth
the observed Deced to fetch about 9 Strokes and then began Paddling
the Deponent and Mr. Clutterbuck perceiving the Deced in danger of
Drowning immediately went into the Water & Sworn to his Assistance
but when they got to the place he was Sunk, says a Gentleman
who
was in the Water at the same time went to his Assistance
and got hold of the Deced, but the Deced pulled so hard the Gentleman
was obliged to quit his hold, the Deponent and Mr. Clutterbuck then
went to the opposite Shore, and sent a Boy to a Man that lived near
who immediately come strippeddoand went in, and after some time
looking for the Deced but without effect the Deponent & Mr. Clutterbuck
Dressed themselves and went to acquaint the Deceds Friends in Berge
Yard Bucklebury, [..] says he has known the
Deced about a Year, that he thinks he was perfectly [..] ober when he
went into the Water, and that to the best of his knowledge the
Deced was perfectly free from any Wa [..] d or Bruise in his Body
at the time he went into the Water.

Benj Grindall< no role >

Jonas Hall< no role > of the Five Fields Chelsea Millwright or his Oath says
that Yesterday between 4 & 5 o'Clock in the Afternoon one Sadler came
to Deponent for a Boat to look for a Person who was Drowned, the
Deponent and Sadler & some others went with a Hitcher or Boat hook,
the Deponent laid hold of the Body several times with the [..] itcher
and endeavoured to drive him towards the Shore and when he was got
out of the Water, says the Deced appeared to be very clear and free
in