Saturday 10 October 2020

Death by church bell: the unfortunate end of poor Everitt of Belton

Before chair making became generally spoken and written about as a separate trade, chairs, stools and benches, as you might expect, were made by carpenters, joiners and turners. So I always keep an eye out for these trades when examining early records.

In John Manterfield's Borough Government in Newton's Grantham The Hall Book of Grantham 1649 - 1662 (Lincoln Record Society Volume 106, LRS & The Boydell Press 2016) at p. 175 is set out [fol. 277v] 'The Fifteenth Court of Thomas Mills, 19 October 1654' the: 

"Coroners Accompt

Att this Court alsoe Mr Robert Trevillian Comburgesse & Coroner for this Burrough and Soke of Grantham for the year now past Accompteth and saith that as Casualtyes happening this yeare there was one [blank] Everitt of Belton Carpenter was slayne by the turne of a Bell within the Steeple of the Church of Belton which the Jury sommoned & found it Death by casualty & misfortune &c And that thereby nothing Did accrue to the benefitt of the Common wealth of this Burrough. And soe he hath nothing to accompt for."

Poor Everitt.

The scene of the accident.

© Julian Parker 2020

1 comment:

  1. lincoln archives hold an inventory for a John Everett of Londonthorpe - 1719. His profession is given as carpenter. I wonder if there is any connection to the wife of John Amos, who was an Everitt from Wellingore ??
    William Sergeant

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