Coroners Proceedings, 1748-1758

Type: Publications
Price: $15.00
 

Description

 

Note: NYG&B members receive an additional $4 off, bringing the total price down to $11. If you are not already logged in, upon checkout you will be prompted to do so, and this additional discount will be automatically applied.

Edited by Francis J. Sypher, Jr. 

Note: This volume has been digitized and is available to NYG&B members in our eLibrary

Volume XVI of the Collections of The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (2004)

It has long been thought that New York City's pre-Revolutionary Coroners records were lost, but now the 1748-1758 records of Coroner John Burnet have been found among the Van Cortlandt family papers in the library of Columbia University. Burnet conducted inquests for more than 75 city residents who died under unusual circumstances, including murder, drowning, suicide, premature birth, death while in jail, and numerous kinds of accidents.

The proceedings gives us fascinating glimpses of life and legal procedures in the mid-18th century city, and should be an especially valuable resource for social as well as legal historians. For genealogists the proceedings also name hundreds of jurors and witnesses, in addition to the deceased. Francis J. Sypher, Jr., Ph.D., has carefully transcribed and annotated all of the records, and has written an introduction in which he describes 18th century New York City, the role of the Coroner, and the life of John Burnet. The book also includes a selection of contemporary illustrations.

Neon CRM by Neon One