The death certificate for Charles BUNTING states that he died on 26th march 1840 at Debden, Essex aged 66 of "Natural Causes". However, the death was registered by the Coroner for Brentwood. This seems a tad odd to me - natural causes and a Coroner's involvement.... I would be grateful if anyone could see if there are any Coroner reports in newspapers that might shed some light on the circumstances of Charles' death. Thank you.
Have tried everything Jan, but can find no trace of Charles Bunting's death I've been through the Coroner's reports for that time in the Essex papers, but there aren't many of them and that proved fruitless as well. Sometimes inquests and Coroners reports are reported with no name, but that doesn't seem to be the case either. I have found his burial thanks to Seax, although that doesn't say anything about a Coroner's involvement, so will contact you via e-mail
Jan although he was 66 is it possible his death was unexpected or suspicious in some way, there might have even been an autopsy and they could see he had something obvious like heart disease and at his age it was deemed natural causes.
Isn’t there always a coroners report if the deceased is not seeking medical treatment at the time of death?
I have searched but can;t find Charles Bunting, but there is a child that died in my tree and she was 17 months old.In the column signature ,description and residence of informant was -and certificate received from the coroner of Cornwall and inquest held. Cause of death was pneumonia. This was in 1906. Newspaper report - At the town hall the coroner and a jury inquired into the circumstances attending the death of the child. The verdict ws natural causes. She would /was a g.aunt.
I've been wandering around the interwebby and it would appear that a lack of an inquest was probably down to the cost of holding one. I suppose if the coroner thought a jury was going to come up with a 'natural causes' verdict, he thought it would be a waste of money to hold one If you want to read a paper on the subject (I've only skimmed through it) you might find this interesting. Code: http://www.localpopulationstudies.org.uk/PDF/LPS78/Article_3_Fisher_pp47-62.pdf
Even now if there is an unexplained sudden death the Coroner is informed and has to 'sign off' the 'stificate I think. Doesn't necessarily mean an inquest though.
If there was no one present at death so no witness to the cause of death then at that time a coroner would be needed to register the death (at least that is what i was told by the local history society when i queried a similar event a few years ago)
