Author	Message / Information
Jennypeg Researcher	Keeling Family replied on: 4/9/2005 8:34:40 PM Hi Chris, With the information you gave me it was very easy to find. THE HEANOR OBSERVER 31ST MAY 1907 A BOY DROWNED AT SMALLEY An inquest was held at Carrington Farm, Housley Town, Smalley on Monday afternoon, regarding the death of Walter Keeling, aged 12 son of Benjamin Keeling, Painter, who was drowned in a pond in a field belonging to Mr Walker, Housley Town, on Saturday last. The inquiry was conducted by Mr W.R.H. Whiston, Deputy County Coroner for Derbyshire. Mrs Alice Keeling mother of the deceased boy said she last saw her boy alive on Saturday about dinnertime. He went out after dinner to play. She saw him playing on the road shortly after that with some boys. Later in the afternoon a boy named Joseph Stafford came and told him (her?) that her boy was drowned. He was a delicate boy and suffered from a bad leg. He was in good health previous to his death. She did not know whether he could swim or not, she thought not. She heard of him bathing about a fortnight ago. She was displeased with him for doing so and forbade him to do it again. Joseph Stafford (10) schoolboy, Housley Town, stated that on Saturday afternoon he was playing with Walter Keeling, and some other boys. They went to a pond in Mr Walker’s field on the suggestion of Keeling. Frank Martin and Sydney Keeling were with them. They sat down by a pond where Walter Keeling said he was going to bathe. He then stripped his clothes and jumped into the pond, going in feet first. Keeling could not swim and he went to the bottom. He did not come up again. Sydney Keeling went to tell his mother and at that time witness’s father came along and went into the pond and brought the boy out. He had seen Keeling bathing about a fortnight ago but not in that pond. Joseph Stafford, miner, Housley Town, said as he was walking round Mr Walker’s field on Saturday afternoon he saw the boys at the pond and called out to them, asking what they were doing there. One of the boys came running to him and said that Walter Keeling had gone down into the pond and had not come back again, witness stripped his clothes and went in and groped for the body with a rake, he found the body at the bottom of the pond. He brought it out and laid it on the bank. There was no sign of life but he tried artificial respiration for about ten minutes, but it was without avail. The water in the pond was about five feet deep, the water in it being used as drinking water for cattle. The pond was fenced round except at the point where the cattle go in to drink, and there the pond is shallower, Constable McGurie, Smalley, said that about 3.45 on Saturday afternoon he received information that the boy Walter Keeling had been drowned in a pond in Mr Walkers field. He proceeded there and found that Stafford had brought him out. They were joined by Dr Lundy. There were no marks on the body and they had it removed to the lad’s home. The coroner in summing up, remarked on the promptitude of Mr Stafford and Mr Walker in trying to restore animation, and regretted that their efforts were not rewarded with success probably the boy being over-heated was seized with cramps or something of the kid. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidentally drowned while bathing”. Jenny
RMMee Moderator	Keeling Family replied on: 4/8/2005 11:23:00 PM A death by drowning would almost certainly have been reported in the press. With it being Smalley, a check of the Ilkeston papers might be as good if not better than the Heanor press. As for the actual Coroners report, I don't know, but my starting point would be County Record Office
chrisbrin	Keeling Family replied on: 4/8/2005 7:09:09 PM 1901 census Wood Lane, Horsley Woodhouse Benjamin Keeling Head 29 House Painter/Journeyman b Derby Alice Keeling Wife 31 b Horsley Walter Keeling Son 6 b Horsley Alice Georgiana Keeling Dau 4 b Horsley Elizabeth Keeling Dau 2 b Little Eaton Sydney Keeling Son 11m b Horsley Woodhouse Alice Georgiana was my Grandmother. I know the family moved to Housley Town at some point and Walter was accidently drowned while bathing in a pond at Smalley on 25th May 1907 aged 12. Certificate received from the Deputy Coroner for the County of Derby. Inquest held 27th May 1907. Anyone know if and where I might be able to find a copy of the coroners report. Thanks Chrisbrin

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