Another Awfully Sudden Death at St Albans

From the Herts Advertiser, 21st July 1860

On leaving the Musical Festival - as if more tangibly to impress upon the mind the solemn truth that "in the midst of life we are in death," - those inhabitants of St Alban's who had attended were saddened by the intelligence that one of their much-respected neighbours, Mr Samuel Carridge, landlord of "The Cock Inn," had died suddenly, at his home in St Peter's-street.

The particulars will be best learned from the following evidence given at the inquest held at the "Queen Adelaide Inn," before R G Lowe, Esq., and a respectable jury, yesterday (Friday) morning.

Mrs Ann Keal said - About two o'clock yesterday (Thursday) I was sent for to the "Cock Inn" and went upstairs into the bed-room, where I found the deceased lying on the floor with his head on Mrs Carridge's lap. He just breathed twice and was gone. I saw him in the morning when he appeared very well indeed. He eat a good dinner. Soon after dinner he complained of a pain in his shoulder and went up-stairs to lie down. He did not do so, but merely sat on the side of the bed. Mrs Carridge came down stairs to get some warm water to bathe his shoulder, and heard him fall down. She went up immediately and found him lying on the floor. He was 68 years of age.

Dr W A Russell said - Decreased sent for me last Thursday week, and I attended him until Sunday last. He was suffering from indigestion, accompanied by flatulency and sickness. I gave him some medicine and he got much better. On Monday last I met him and he said he had got quite well. I called again on Wednesday and he was out. Mrs Carridge said he had quite recovered. Of late years he had shown symptoms of having what is termed an "old man's heart," and I have no doubt he died from disease of the heart.

The jury found the deceased died from natural causes.

The deceased had been the landlord of the "Cock Inn" for about 24 years, and had always conducted it in a most respectable manner.

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The Musical Festival referred to was in the Abbey and the following people were mentioned in the press report: Miss Steele; Miss Martin; Mrs Boyd; Miss Annie Cox; Mr Taylor; Mr Matthews; Mr W Pitts; Mr J S Booth; Rev H D Nicholson.

The Cock Inn still stands at the corner of St Peters Street and Hatfield Road (formerly Cock Lane). The people staying there in the 1851 census were:

Samuel

Carridge

Head

57

Licenced Victualler

East Soham, Suffolk

Elizabeth

Carridge

Wife

60

 

Thorndon, Suffolk

Sarah

Webb

Niece

5

Scholar

St Albans

William

Stanbridge

Servant

30

Ostler

Hertford

Ann

Cutts

Servant

19

House Servant

Welwyn

George

Green

Lodger

24

Coach Painter

Hertford

George

Worby (or Horby)

Lodger

61

Labourer

St Albans

John

Brown

Lodger

67

Labourer

Hoddesdon

George

Bradshaw

Lodger

25

Bookseller

Hanwell, Middx

If you can add to the information given above tell me.