1839: Death of Lock-Keeper from Apoplexy

From the Wiltshire Independent, 18th April 1839.

WOOTTON BASSETT.

The typhus fever, which has for so long a time afflicted the town and neighbourhood of Wootton Bassett, has quite disappeared.

On Saturday last, Mr. Whitmarsh held an inquest in the parish of Wootton Bassett, on the body of John Jefferies, aged 50, a lock-keeper, who was found dead on the tow-path of the Wilts and Berks Canal, on the Thursday morning previous. He had it appeared been at Wootton Bassett on the Wednesday, and left the town for his home (a very short distance from which he was found) between six and seven o'clock in the evening. The following morning his son, 8 years of age, on going to school, discovered him and gave the alarm.

It is a singular coincidence that, nine years ago, a brother of deceased was found dead, and lying across a wheelbarrow (with which he had been working), within forty yards of the same spot. The verdict was, in both cases, 'Died from apoplexy'.