City & Liberty of
Westmr . in the County
of Middlesex }

Informations taken this Twenty sixth
day of June 1776 at the Parish of St. Martin
in the Fields within the Liberty of Westmr .
in the County of Midsex upon on an Inquisition
touching the death of Edward Merritt< no role > lying dead
in the Parish Liberty and County

George Hutchison< no role > a Lodger at Mrs. Elizabeth Bright< no role >
in St. Martin Street in the Parish of St. Martin in the
Fields Carpenter on his Oath Saith, That Edward
Merritt< no role > the Deced lodged in the same Room with
Deced, and that they Slept together, Says that the
Deced came from last Night in Liquor a little after Eleven
o'Clock Staid in the Shop a few Minutes with Dept.
and they both went up together into their Room
That the Deced undressed himself and went into
Bed and immediately dropped a Sleep, That the
Deced took off his Coat & Wastcoat Shoes & Stockings
and sat upon the side of the Bed putting on his Night Cap and a Silk Handkerchief about his Neck That he a [..]
about Twelve o'Clock found the Room full of Smock
and the Deced lying on the Floor by the side of
the Bed, with his Shirt burning and part of the
Bed Cloaths on Fire, Says that he immediately
opened the Door and called Mr. Ditchfield another
Lodger who came up to Deced, Says that the Deced's
Stomach Sides Arms & Face were much Scorched
and Burnt, andDept.Deced was dead, being Accidentle
by his Shirt & Handkerchief taking Fire as Dept.
believes, Says that the Room was full of Smock
and that Dept. was almost Suffocated when he
awoke.

Geo: Hutchinson< no role >

Sworn the Day Year & Place
abovementioned before me
Tho. Prickard< no role > Coroner .