Jane Birkett (nee Jane Turner, I believe), Death and Inquest, 1838, Sedgwick, Westmorland, England

Westmorland Gazette, Saturday, 24 Feb 1838

SUDDEN DEATH AT SEDGWICK

On the evening of Thursday in last week, an old woman of the name of Jane Birkett, residing in Sedgwick, fell suddenly down in her peathouse, and expired in a few minutes afterwards. The following are the statements made by witnesses at the inquest held before the Coroner, Richard Wilson, Esq.

Anne Garnett, of Sedgwick, being examined, said, she was the daughter of Edward Garnett, cooper; that she was helping her to get in some wood slabs for the fire, on Thursday afternoon last. Jane Birket was in a little outhouse putting up the wood as they gave it to her, and two other persons, viz. Mary Garnett and Ellen Remington, were helping witness. When witness was helping a basket of slabs, her (witness' sister) Mary Garnett came and said that Jane Birkett had fallen down amongst the wood; witness immediately went for Margaret Rennison, who returned with her, and they found Jane Birkett in the peathouse lying with her face to the ground. She appears to witness as if she were dying, and she did die soon after they had removed her into the house. Whilst they were getting the wood into the peathouse, Jane Birkett complained very much of cold, and said several times during the afternoon that she was nearly starved to death -- by which she meant that she was suffering much fever through cold.

Margaret Rennison, widow, residing in Sedgwick, said that Anne Garnett had called her on Thursday evening, between five and six o'clock, when she went to Jane Birkett's peat-house, and found her lying with her face to the ground. Witness spoke to her, but she made no answer, and appeared insensible and speechless. Witness then assisted to remove her into the house, and she died in five or ten minutes afterwards; thought she died of a fit, and not by any v iolent means.

Thomasin Blamire, residing in Sedgwick, said she assisted in taking the clothes off the deceased; and that there appeared no marks of violence upon her person.

Verdict. Died by the visitation of God.