Tragic Death of a Child

A tragic incident occurred on October 4th 1863 at the New Inn in Rosemarket – the death of a child.  The following is taken from reporting in the newspapers at the time.  

DEATH OF A CHILD FROM SUFFOCATION  

An inquest was held at Rosemarket on Saturday October 9th 1863 before W. V. James, Esq, on the body of Emily Morris, aged eleven weeks, daughter of Stephen Morris, of the New Inn, Rosemarket. The following evidence was adduced: 

Ellen Morris 

Ellen Morris deposed:  I am the wife of Stephen Morris, who keeps the New Inn, at Rosemarket.  

The deceased was our child. It slept with me. I got up about half- past six on Saturday morning, leaving it in bed, and went out to the dairy. At eight o'clock I went to see if the child was awake. The bed was a turn-up one. The child was dead.  

Mary Ann Gudridge 

Mary Ann Gudridge, a servant with Mr Morris, deposed: At about half-past seven o'clock, on Saturday morning. I turned up the bed. I did not know the child was there. It used to sleep in the bed, and was taken up every morning and put into the cradle. Her sister, aged five years, used to look after it. I never thought of looking in the bed. It was turned down about eight o'clock.   
 
The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death. 

The New Inn Rosemarket