Hannah Drewett (Whitmill) ¹⁴⁰

  General Notes:

Immigrated to Fremantle, Australia on "Simon Taylor" arriving Aug 20, 1842 ¹³⁴

  Noted events in her life were:

• Death inquiry. McIVOR TIMES - Friday 14 January 1888

Transcript of entry on page 2
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS -
SHOCKING AND FATAL CASE OF BURNING - A shocking case of burning, which has since resulted fatally, occurred here this morning, at about 11 o'clock, the victim being Mrs Marshall, wife of Mr John Marshall, and a very old resident of this town. Mrs Marshall was washing, and in attempting to lift a boiler off the fire, her clothes became ignited and were soon in a blaze. She ran outside and called to Mr Perry, who was not at home at the time, but returned a few minutes after the occurrence, and hastened to render what assistance he could. A miner named Herman Stelles, an old resident of the place, and a little boy, Walter Hanson, son of Mr Hanson, living next door, were the first on the spot and did what they could to extinguish the burning clothes, but by that time they were for the most part, in a blaze. Herman, however, succeeded in dragging off a quantity of the burning apparel, and it might be said that there was nothing left that was not consumed but a portion of the stays and boots; which latter were burning when Herman pulled them off. By this time Mr Perry and others had arrived, when the unfortunate victim who was burnt from head to foot, was taken inside and Dr Clark sent for and attended to the deceased, who never rallied from the shock and succumbed to the fearful injuries she sustained a few minutes before 5 o'clock in the evening. The deceased was 64 years old

McIVOR TIMES - Friday 21 January 1888
Transcript of entry on page 2
DEATH OF MRS MARSHALL
The report of the enquiry, held last week, as to the sad occurrence attended by the accidental death of Mrs Marshall by burning, will be found in another part of this paper. The funeral took place on Saturday last and was attended by friends from a distance and all parts of the district. The attendance, though large, would have been much larger, but for an alteration in the time of starting of the funeral, numbers having arrived too late.
____________________
Transcript of entry on page 3
MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY
A Magisterial Inquiry was held by D Sims Esq., J.P. on Friday last, as to the cause of death on the day previous of Hannah Marshall, wife of Mr John Marshall, the Inquiry being held at Mr Marshall's residence. The following depositions were taken:
Hermann Stellys, sworn, stated: My Attention was sailed, yesterday, 13th January, by Walter Hanson, who said that Mrs Marshall was on fire. Was in the adjoining yard. Ran at once to her assistance. Found she was on fire. Tried to get the clothes from her. Succeeded in getting most of her clothes off, when Mr Perry came to help me. We put the fire out. We took into the house and place a blanket over her. We at once sent for the doctor, and Dr Clark came.
Walter Hanson, sworn: Saw Mrs Marshall between half past 10 and 11 o'clock yesterday morning. Was at my father's place, the adjoining premises. Heard her scream. At once ran around to see what it was, and found her clothes were on fire. Tried to put the fire out. Could not do so. Mrs Young came with a bucket of water, and I threw it over her, and Mr Herman and Mr Perry came, and the Doctor was sent for.
Edward Perry, sworn, stated: Yesterday morning, at about 11 o'clock, I was coming up the street and was told to run, that Mrs Marshall was on fire. Ran at once to the back of the premises, and found Herman taking the remains of the charred clothes off her. Went into the bedroom and got a blanket, wrapped her up in it, and , assisted by Herman, carried her into the bedroom, and sent for the Doctor. Asked her how it occurred. She said she was lifting the boiler off the fire and her clothes took fire and she ran to the fence to call me to her help. She evidently had caught fire in the kitchen, and on finding herself on fire ran out to my fence adjoining and called out for assistance.
John Marshall, sworn, stated: Had left home yesterday morning for wood, and the Rev. Mr Seccombe and my daughter met me on the road and told me that my wife's clothes had caught fire, and that she was seriously burnt. Hastened home and found her very badly burnt. She was a native of Oxfordshire, England. Have been married 40 years. She was quite sensible when I came home. She died about two hours afterwards. She was 64 years of age.

Henry B Clark, sworn: Am a duly qualified medical practitioner, residing at Heathcote. Yesterday morning about 11 o'clock I got a message to come quick; that Mrs Marshall was burnt to death. Came up at once and found her in bed suffering from extensive burns from her head down to her feet, and in a state of collapse. Applied the usual remedies. And visited her several times up to her death. She never recovered from the shock. The cause of death was extensive burns and shock to the system.

A decision was given to the effect that death was caused by extensive burns accidently received and shock to the system.
_____________________________________

Hannah married Michael John Marshall, son of Unknown and Unknown, on 12 Dec 1846 in Wexcombe, Western Australia ¹⁰⁷.^,210 (Michael John Marshall was born about 1813 in London, Middlesex, England ⁸⁸ and died 1st August, 1890 in Heathcote, Victoria, Australia ⁸⁸.)