Inquest Records for Elizabeth HARRINGTON

[Jane*]

OK, here goes, first posting...hope I am in the right area |help|

I am trying to find out how my great Grandmother died in the Poland Street Workhouse/Westminster Union. She died of massive head injuries and although an inquest was held there was no evidence for the cause.

A visit to the London Metropolitan Archives only revealed that the reason for her admission was destroyed in the war and my only remaining hope was in finding inquest OR infirmary records.

Can anyone can give me any help or guidance in where to go next ?

Many thanks

Jane

[Kerrywood]

I am trying to find out how my great Grandmother died in the Poland Street Workhouse/Westminster Union. She died of massive head injuries and although an inquest was held there was no evidence for the cause.

A visit to the London Metropolitan Archives only revealed that the reason for her admission was destroyed in the war and my only remaining hope was in finding inquest OR infirmary records.

Are you saying you couldn't find an inquest report, or that you found one but it was inconclusive? :confused:

Coroners' records for Westminster are not held at the LMA but in the Muniment Room at Westminster Abbey (http://www.westminster-abbey.org/library-research/muniment-collection). If you haven't already tried, you can email them to ask if they have what you need. :)

Kerrywood

[Jane*]

Kerrywood - No, I haven't yet found any details on the inquest as I am not sure where to look for it. The visit to the LMA was to try and find out why she was admitted but the people there told me that all those records had been destroyed in the war. I haven't tried the place that you give, but I will definitely give it a try.

Many thanks to you for your help.

Jane

[Hollytree]

I am trying to find out how my great Grandmother died in the Poland Street Workhouse/Westminster Union. She died of massive head injuries and although an inquest was held there was no evidence for the cause.

A visit to the London Metropolitan Archives only revealed that the reason for her admission was destroyed in the war and my only remaining hope was in finding inquest OR infirmary records.

Can anyone can give me any help or guidance i
Jane

Hi Jane

The Natioal Archives hold letter books from the poor law unions, this is a research guide

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=116

It takes time but sometimes in (I think it's HO12) you can find reports of incidents at the workhouse that your ancestor was kept. I once found a report of an accusation against a doctor, and another time of a fight between two inmates. The letter books are aort of formal correspondece between the Board of Guardians and the Commissiooners on point of policy, so you ancestor;s accident may not be there, but I spent a very interesting day a few years ago trawling through one or two of them.

You didn't give a date.tho' so although I saw refs for Westminster, too many to list here.

Good luck

Anne

[Jane*]

Kerrywood - Tried emailing the Muniment Room at Westminster Abbey, but sadly their records only go up to 1880.

Hollytree - Thank you for the link to the National Archives. The date of her death was 12 December 1899. Hopefully I can find something there.

Thank you to you both

Jane