Coroner of Essex County, 1778-1796 Digital

Contains papers related to John Heard's tenure as a coroner of Essex County, dated 1778-1796, including his appointment by the state, summons to the constable to convene jurors to conduct inquests, inquisition indentures, juror receipts and lists, and accounts of charges incurred by the inquisition, such as a gravedigger's bill. Several cases of unnamed women were found by the jurors to be a suicides by hanging. The March 29, 1781, summons to view the body of an African American man named Jupiter at the house of Mrs. Ares concludes the cause of death to be suicide by hanging. The deaths of Ipswich mariner Joseph Emerton and another unknown sailor were determined to be drownings. Other names of deceased persons include Nabby Jones, Philip Lord, Isaac Galloway, and Parker Storey. On October 2, 1795, Heard issued a summons to appear at the Ipswich house of Comeno (or Quomeno) Morris to investigate the death of a child.