HARRIET BRONSDON

SUDDEN DEATH OF A WIDOW

A sad case of sudden death occurred on Monday morning. Mrs. Harriet Bronsdon, whose husband died seven years ago from smallpox, leaving her with a family of six, several of them quite young, was in the habit of going out charring to gain a livelihood for herself and children.

On Monday morning she went as usual, to Mrs. Hughes, of the Bridge, and appeared in customary health. Whilst having some breakfast in the kitchen, she put her hand to her forehead, and with a short exclamation. Fell forward on the table. The servant laid her on the ground and ran for assistance. But she gave a long gasp, and died before help could be rendered.

The circumstances necessitated an inquest, which was held on Tuesday evening at the Police Court, by Dr. W.B. Heywood, Borough Coroner, and a jury of whom Mr. Ernest Jones was foreman. A son, Arthur Bronsdon, a lance corporal in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, home on leave from Dover, gave evidence of identification, and said he had never known his mother to suffer from any illness. Bessie Fairchild, the servant, who was present at the death, said during the two months she had known the deceased, she complained of headaches and indigestion. Dr. Arthur Thompson, who had made the post-mortem examination, said the heart was in a diseased condition, and in his opinion death was due to cardiac syncope, following on the diseased condition of the heart and bowels. All other organs were healthy.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, and very considerately handed over their fees to the family, two of the children being still at school, and thus deprived of the bread-winner.

Newbury Weekly News 9 February 1911

Not in Mrs. P.

Buried 9 February 1911 aged 47 Bk 1899 p. 202 no. 8816

Husband Charles had died 12 December 1903 aged 53