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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Davedrave on Wednesday 07 January 26 09:56 GMT (UK)
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Sarah Chamberlain drowned in Chertsey in May 1841, aged 2 years 6 months. The cause of death is “Inquest of Jury. Found Drowned”. “Found drowned” suggests that there were no witnesses to the tragedy. Unfortunately, I can’t find a newspaper report of the inquest to shed any light on the matter.
Looking at a map of Chertsey, it seems there were quite a number of ponds and channels quite near the family home (old monastic fishponds etc.) but would a child of her young age have been likely to wander off alone and fallen into one of them? Or might it have been a case of drowning in the home, maybe in a tin bath or wash tub, whilst her mother or older sibling was occupied elsewhere? Any suggestions appreciated.
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My first thought was a tin bath rather than a river or pond but hard to say without further reports from the time.
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A child aged 2 years and 6 months may be an accomplished walker, or on the other hand have been only walking for a few months. Developmental milestones vary. They fall, stumble and topple easily and frequently when attempting to change direction or encounter a tripping obstacle.
They would have minimal sense of direction and no trepidation or awareness of hazards such as water.
I would say that unsupervised for even a few moments, in the proximity of a pond or even a bucket of water, a child of that age could drown.
Likewise, unsupervised in a bath etc, the same thing applies.
Sue
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Have you sought help / information from local newspaper archives? Or any Chertsey area Historical Society or group? Worth a try.
TY
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Was she the daughter of Sampson at Staines Lane - '41 Census?
Runs north of Chertsey not far from the Abbey River
https://maps.nls.uk/view/102345985#zoom=5.9&lat=4755&lon=7700&layers=BT
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Coroners' records are not known for surviving -
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/history-centre/researchers/guides/coroners-records i
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Thanks for all your replies.
Yes, Sarah was the daughter of Samson, of Staines Lane, and the abbey grounds nearby were moated and contained numerous fish ponds. I looked at the Eton and Windsor Gazette around the date of the inquest, without finding anything, so in view of what hanes teulu has posted, it seems unlikely I’ll find anything, but at least I know now (thanks to sparrett) that the child might possibly have found her way into a pond or watercourse.
Dave :)
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I'm not suggesting this is what happened, however it is a possible scenario.
There is a newspaper report of a 3 year old child found drowned in May 1841 - Georgina STANNARD - who had apparently had a couple of near misses already, but a 9 year old sister had taken Georgina out to play and "lost her," she sadly then accidentally fell into the waters of a moat. I notice that your CHAMBERLAIN family does indeed have older siblings who may have been caring for the 2 year old.
Friday, May 28, 1841
Publication: Morning Post
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Thanks, maddy, for this suggestion, which, as you say, is certainly possible.
Dave :)