Accidentally Killed by a Carriage Passing Over Her on the King’s Highway
This snippet was sent to us by Ray Barnes.
A coroner’s warrant re the burial of MARY LEAKE dated 9th day of August 1817 stated:
Whereas I, with my inquest,the day and year hereunder written, have taken a view of the body of MARY LEAKE who was accidentally killed by a carriage passing over her in the King’s Highway and who now lies dead in your parish, and have proceeded therein according to law. These are therefore to certify, that you may lawfully permit the body of the said MARY LEAKE to be buried, and for so doing this shall be your warrant.
Mary was born on 4th August 1813, the daughter of Millwright Henry Leake (1763-1839) and his second wife Sarah Rushton (1783 – date unknown). She was baptised in St Mary & St Margaret Church 10th October in the same year as her birth.
She died on 6th August 1817 and was buried in Castle Bromwich graveyard on 13th August. Mary’s original gravestone rests against the wall dividing the graveyard into two areas.
