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

Informations taken this Eleventh
day of April 1778 at the Parish of St. John
the Evangelist within the Liberty of Westmr .
in the Christy of Midsex upon on Inquisition
touching the death of Thomas Christy< no role > lying
dead in the said Parish Liberty & County.

Joseph Cooper< no role > Apprentice to John Hearne< no role > , of
Cuper's Bridge Lambeth Lighte [..] Builder on his
Oath Saith, That on Sunday the 22d. day of March
last Samuel Burch< no role > came to Dept. desiring
him to go with him to Thomas Christy< no role > the Deced
to make an Agreement to go up the Water
the Sunday following, Says that he went
and they all agreed to go up the River Thames
on Sunday the 29th. day of March and Dept.
was to procure a Boat, and to meat at
Old Swan Stairs at Ten o'Clock, Says that they
three together with John Newton< no role > went into
the Boat at Old Swan on the sd. 29th. day of March Rowed to Cupers Bridge
and then had a Cast in a Sailing Barge to
Chiswick, their Boat being fasbined to the
Barge, Says that they Dined at Chiswick, and
about four o'Clock come into their Boat and
Dept. had the Rudder until they come to the
Red House at Batterna where they drank a
Pot of Beer, Says that on their coming into
the Boat again Birch took hold of the
Rudder & insisted on Managing it, but
Birch not understanding how to manage
it, when they had sailed about half a Mile
the Boat overset, by a sudden Squall of Wind
and the Deced & Newton immediately Sunk
Says that Birch & this Dept. got upon the Bottom
of the Boat but Birch coming close to Depoh.
at the Head of the Boat, they both fell down
into