Westminster

Informations of Witnesses taken upon Oath
this 20th, day of August 1778, at the Dwelling House of
Mr. Girdleston the Sign of the Brown Bear at Westminster
Bridge foot in the Parish of St. Margaret in the City of
Westminster , Before Thomas Prickard< no role > Gentleman His
Majesty's Coroner for the City and Liberty of Westminster
on view of the Body of Samuel Castleden< no role > in the Said
Parish and City then and there lying Dead

John Baynes< no role > aged 11 Years at No. 2 in Downing Street St.
Margaret Westmr. says that yesterday betwixt 6 & 7 o' Clock
in the Evening, Says he called on the Deced, and they went
with two more Boys to go into the Water and went to the
Wooden Bridge in New Palace Yard and all [..] ipt and went
like the Water, Says the Deced could not Swim, nor the
Deponent, but the other two Boys, the two Boys desired the
Deced to go first which he did Paddling along, and when
he got about opposite to Lord Lincolns Causeway, he heard one
of the Boys say that the Deced had Lunk to the Bottom
the Boys called trinity for a Boat and Several Boats came
and they Searched but did not find him for about half an hour
and then three Men went into the Water and one found the