Coroners report in the Sentinel??? Newspaper expert required!

[NEL]

I have been researching the death of my Great Aunt, who died as a child, tragically in 1916. An inquest was held on 26/10/1916. The Coroners office says all records pre 1981 have been destroyed. I have searched The Sentinel for a report on the inquest to no avail, it's not there. My Questions are.. is the Sentinel archive at Hanley and Newcastle library complete? Was the Sentinel printed everyday?  If the inquest was not reported in the Sentinel, may it have been recorded in the Staffordshire Advertiser, any advice appreciated Nel. I have searched The NA, local archives for info re Coroner Hugh Adams but without any luck

[pc99]

Nel,

Back copies of the Staffordshire Advertiser are held at the William Salt Library, Stafford.
Tel. No. 01785 278372. Worth a try.

pc99

[Mean_genie]

You can find out what papers survive and where they are held on the NEWSPLAN West Midlands site

www.newsplan.co.uk/wm_newsplan/modules.php?name=home

Inquests are usually reported, but it can vary depending on whther it was a slow news week or not. There is usually a choice of two or more papers at any given time for a town of a reasonable size. If the town or village where an event occurred did not have a paper of its own, then put in the name of the nearest large town as a place or keyword search.

Good luck

Mean_genie

[Sam from Stoke]

Hi

Stoke Archives in Hanley Library have the Sentinels on microfiche and as far as I know, they are complete.

I went last week to look for 2 inquest reports, I found one from 1953 but had no luck with the one I wanted for 1911 (I found the newspaper but couldn't see a report) so it is a bit hit and miss.

Sam x

[NEL]

Sam, I've checked the Sentinel twice... no report there? Only option to try the Advertiser. I am a little agog that all records pre 1981 have been destroyed.. can this happen???
This little Lady died at 3 years, her father was serving in Mesopatamia/ India with the Welch Fusilliers, her elder sister may have witnessed the accident, being only 6 yrs she must have been very traumatised, as throughout her 97yrs she never spoke to anyone re her younger sister. A Great Aunt informed my Mum and I felt duty bound to remember her. She is buried with her paternal grandparents in Tunstall cemetry. Ps her Grandmother died only 3 days before her, both in the workhouse infirmary Chell.

[mshrmh]

NEL - no comfort to you I know, but I hit the same blank for 1915 - apart from War deaths the only inquests I saw around the period I was searching were those where there were several deaths (I seem to recall an incident at one of the potteries). Single deaths I think were crowded out at this time.
(PS - I think there's also the Chronicle at Stoke Archives - can't remember for sure, but think I searched two lots of papers, quite a while ago though).

[willow154]

First a thankyou to Mean_genie for the Staffordshire newspaper site.
Nel,
Have you tried the Staffordshire Archives - it says they have indexesof coroner's reports, but quite what information is there I'm not sure.
Also, if the child died in the workhouse infirmary there might be something in the infirmary/workhouse records.
I know this one is a long-shot, but some parish magazines have obituaries, details of death, etc.
Paulene

[thor]

Hi
the sentinel have their own archives and I am sure they would help you as I know that they will do searches for a fee and  you can actually order copies. Whilst I know you have searched yourself they may be able to offer suggestions.  I have had to search for 2 inquests reports myself and found they can be several weeks after you think they should be!!!!

[NEL]

Thanks for all your help and advice, I will get onto it, a few more leads to go at! Cheers