Genealogy Chat

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Hi genealogy gurus! Wondering if someone can help me with how to get a copy of a coroner's report from 1880. Basically, the story is, my 3xg grandfather, a John James Chase, died at age 52, and according to his death certificate the cause was 'violent fracture of the skull accidental'. I know he was a bricklayer, so perhaps he was hit on the head with a brick! However, I notice mention of a coroner's report on the death certificate so I'd love to get a copy of this and find out exactly what happened to him. Has anyone managed to get copies of old coroner's reports and if so, how did you do it? Any info or suggestions/tips would be greatly appreciated. I have heard that much of these kinds of records were destroyed during the war but I figure it's still worth trying to find. Thanks! Kat

very rarley do the reports survive, but i have several like this and have for each one found detailed newspaer reports of them, i had a cert last week for an 8 year old brother of my grand mother who had drowned in 1927, and at the library on saturday i got 4 front page articles from different newspapers, i also had a library in Kent send me one for £5 as it was to far to travel to. contact the library nearest the event and see what they say if its not close by you

My g_g_g_grandfathers inquest details were held at Westminster Cathedral of all places! I think your first approach should be to establish where in London he died because City of London records are kept separately from the rest of London. Then ask the Corporation of London Records Office. If they don't hold the records they are bound to tell you where to enquire.

The death cert will tell you where the inquest was held and who the coroner was. I thought Id find the details but they had disappeared. Some one on here very kindly looked up a newspaper report on the inquest for me. (1912)

I thought coroner's records were routinely destroyed, but someone who had been a coroner's officer said on this site that you can try asking the relevant police force as records are sometimes kept with them, or given to the relevant records office, so its worth enquiring. nell

Thanks guys, most helpful. Yes, the name of the coroner is on the cert (can't remember off hand). And yes, it says he died in the 'German' Hospital or something of that sort? Sounded very odd to me, as it was in London but didn't seem to be his area of East London (ie. Hackney, Shoreditch). Could just be the hospital closest to where he had his accident, or perhaps just the one that poor people with no money went to, as that's what he was. I also forgot to mention that I live in Australia, so will definitely need to find ways of getting copies of records made and sent to me. I will try the avenues suggested and see how far I get. Thanks again everyone, at least now I have a few places to start. Kat

The German Hospital, Dalston, was founded as a hospital for the German speaking community of London. It was established as a voluntary subscription hospital for the poor German community of the East End.

You should definitely ask the very helpful people at the London Metropolitan archive - their e-mail is [email protected]

Katharina, if you google 'Fassett Square E8' you come to a website which describes Fassett Square in Hackney and the German Hospital which bordered the square. There are pictures of the Hospital. Fassett Square was the inspiration for Albert Square for the BBC soap opera Eastenders! My Great-Great Grandfather was born in the Square...that's how I came across the site. Hope this is of interest.

Thanks Paul, I will definitely be contacting the LMA, that's very helpful. And that's very interesting Natalie, thank you! Makes a bit more sense why my guy was there now, as he certainly wasn't German, but he was definitely an East Ender! I will jump onto Google when I get a chance and check it out. Thank you again to everyone for your replies, it's so great to have this amazing wealth of knowledge on GR. I only hope I can return the favour by helping you all out with your queries in the future. Kat :-)