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24 August 1860: Stamford Mercury
CONINGSBY.—Sudden Death.—On Friday last, just after breakfast, the inhabitants of this place were thrown into a state of consternation by a report that Mr. R. H. Bryan watchmaker, had suddenly died at Mr. Barnett's, draper, Tattershall. It appears that Mr. Bryan rose at 5 o'clock, when he seemed cheerful & well: he partook of a hearty breakfast, and left home for Tattershall station, intending to go to Lincoln. He proceeded by the river bank (it being the nearer way), and had nearly reached Tattershall, when he met Mr. R. Hartly, to whom he said he felt unwell, and feared he should be too late for the train. Still feeling unwell he relinquished the idea of going to Lincoln, and resolved to return home by way of Tattershall, His indisposition increasing he called at Mr. Barnett's to rest himself, observing that he felt very unwell. Just then Jackson (who runs a conveyance to the station) passed, and Mr. Bryan shouted after him, requesting him to call as he returned to take him home. He then sat down in Mr. Barnett's shop, and said, "What poor frail creatures we are!" Mr. Barnett replied, " Yes, how feeble is our mortal frame; what dying worms we be!" Seeing a change in Mr. Bryan, Mr. Barnett ran for Mr Marshall, draper, his next-door neighbour who came with a bottle of smelling salts, but Mr Bryan's head fell back, and the vital spark had become extinct. The body was conveyed to Mrs. Rhodes, the Fortescue Arms, and an inquest was held the following day before Mr. J. C. Little, coroner, when a verdict was returned of "death from disease of the heart, induced by excitement and over exertion." Mr. Bryan was an excellent scholar, an intelligent man, and reporter for two newspapers. The esteem in which he was held was evinced by the large number who attended his funeral. He was conveyed to the grave by six Wesleyan local preachers, he himself having been one some years ago.
Boyd, Dove, Blakey, Burdon
