| Notes |
- See attached sources. [1]
- (Research):1991 GRO London RLS
In 1859 and 1862 Charles was called a "Butcher" 1n 1880 Charles was called a "Dealer and Beerhouse Keeper" and the cause of death was given as "Suicide by drowning in the Brook at Fifehead-Neville whilst in an unsound state of mind". The informant was "Certificate received from J.C. Leach Coroner for Shaftesbury, Inquest held the 16th day of November 1880". Certificate No 444x.
Dorset County Chronicle & Somersetshire Gazette
Supplement November 18, 1880
Sturminster Newtown
"Suicide--- On Tuesday Mr Comyns Leach, Coroner, held an inquest at Kinson, in the parish of Hazelbury Bryan, on the body of Charles Bennett, Landlord of the New Inn, who also carried on the business of butcher and dealer, and was well known and much respected in the district. On Monday morning Mr Bennett, who was 45 years of age, left his home early, and was seen about six o'clock near a steam which flows into the river Stour at Fifehead Neville, about two miles from his house.
The bank of the stream, which is near a mill, is fenced off with railing to prevent cattle falling into the water, and at this point shortly after seven o'clock the body of the deceased was found in the water. The following evidence was given:-
Mary Ann Bennett stated her husband was a dealer and kept a beerhouse. On Monday morning, a little after five o'clock, instead of calling her to light the candle, as he usually did, he must have lighted it himself. The first time she saw him he was leaving the bed with a light in his hand, and he went towards the bed where the children were sleeping and covered up one of them, and said "How hot you are " and then left the room. He was in the habit of getting up and going to the
garden house, and the morning before he got up even earlier, but he was then only absent about ten minutes, and came back to bed again. His circumstances have been very low of late, and he had been occasionally in low spirits, frequently sighing and saying "Oh dear." He had not been about to fairs and markets lately, but that was accounted for by his not being able to deal, and he said he had no money to meet his customers. He was very quiet on Sunday. He certainly had been sometimes in the habit of drinking too much, but for the last three weeks he had been more temperate than for some years. Albert Warr, carter in the employ of Mr Foot, stated about 20 minutes past six on Monday morning he was going to his work by the brook at Fifehead Neville, and saw the deceased resting his foot on the rail by the side of the brook looking into the water. He asked witness if he had seen his horse near Plumber-lane, which was the way he (witness)came, and witness replied he had not. He said the horse had got out in the night, some one had left the gate open, and then he said he must go up on the top of Fifehead-hill, and if he could not see the horse then it could not be seen anywhere. He then went into the middle of the road, and witness left him standing there. There was nothing in his manner to call witness' attention to him. He appeared the same as usual. James Bleathman stated on Monday morning about seven o'clock he went out with two horses for exercise, and when near the brook he saw a white smockfrock tied on by a blue neckerchief to a rail close to the brook, and a black "Jim Crow" hat on the ground underneath the rail. On looking over the rail into the stream he saw a body floating face downwards. He at once went and told two men named Laurence and Rake, and then went to Sturminster Newton and gave information to the police. Sidney Laurence, miller of Fifehead Neville, said he knew the deceased, and on Monday morning, a little after seven, from what the last witness told him, he went down to the brook and saw a body in the stream, which, though the late rains, was running swift and was deeper than usual. The body was face downwards, and there was a rope, about three or four yards long, fastened round the leg close to the foot, and the other end to a hazel branch growing beside the brook. With assistance he got the body out, and recognised it as that of Charles Bennett. The body was quite cold. The water at that part of the brook was about seven feet deep. The Coroner, having made a few remarks on the painful nature of the case, the jury returned as their verdict "That the deceased committed suicide by drowning, being at the time temporarily insane." The jury gave their fees to the widow, who is left with a family of ten children. "
A copy of the original newspaper article is held by Ann & Larry SUTTON (1999)
Family Group Record
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Husband
Charles Bennett Pedigree
Birth: 1832 , Dorset, England
Christening:
Marriage: 01 FEB 1858 Sturminster Newt, , Dorset, England
Death: 1880
Burial:
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Wife
Mary Ann Proles Pedigree
Birth: 22 OCT 1831 Sturminster Newt, , Dorset, England
Christening:
Marriage: 01 FEB 1858 Sturminster Newt, , Dorset, England
Death: 24 APR 1918
Burial:
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Children
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1832 - 1880 (48 years)
[1] 
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