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

Informations taken this first
day of July 1785 at the Parish of
St. John the Evangelist within the
Liberty of Westmr in the County of
Midsex upon an Inquisition touching
the death of John Henry Ferdinand
Smith< no role > lying dead in the said Parish
Liberty and County.

James Clark< no role > of Kempins Alley Vine Street
in the Parish of St. John the Evangelist Westmr
Waterman on his Oath saith That on
Wednesday last the 29th. Instant about
five or Six o' Clock in the Afternoon this Dept
was at the Horse Ferry Westmr. and was
informed that a Lad was Drowned in the
River Thames , and afterwards was told that
he was Drowned near the Timber Yard
upon Mill Bank, and Mr. Peters another
Waterman was desired to Drag the River
for the Deced, and Dept. went with him
Says that they Dragged about two hours
but could not find him, Says that about
two o' Clock the next Morning, when the
Tide was out, Dept. found the Deced in
a Hole upon his face about Twenty feet
from the Wall in the Parish of St. John the
Evangelist Westmr. That he was dead, but
Dept. observed no Marks of violence
upon the Deced, Says that he with the
Assistance of William Collice lifted the Deced
unto his Boat, and rowed him to the Horse Ferry
Westmr. but on being told by the Patrole that
he ought not to Land Deced there this Dept
Rowed him up again and put him ashore
at the Roe Buck upon Mill Bank in the
same Parish, and left him there,

James Clark< no role >

Sworn the Day Year &
Place abovementioned
before me}

Tho. Prickard< no role > Coroner