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Marine Terrace, Penzance
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SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. GILL, OF
PENZANCE.
On Thursday evening, about 8 o’clock, the sad
intelligence quickly spread that Mr. Thomas Gill, the
trusted manager, for between 30 and 40 years, of the
Messrs. Freeman’s granite quarries at Lamorna and New
Mill, and of their business generally at Penzance, had died
suddenly. Capt. Spence, of the ketch Caroline, and Mr.
T. Holbrook, were in quest of Mr. Gill to see if they could
arrange for a cargo of granite, to be sent to Tilbury.
They met him on the Esplanade and, to chat over business,
stepped into the vaults of the Queen’s hotel.
Nothing wkeas observed to be amiss with Mr. Gill and he
was quite cheerful. He had, however, complained of a
pain in his chest on the previous night, but nothing
serious was apprehended.
Mr. Gill asked for a bottle of ginger-ale, and stood
to drink it, but whilst in the act and during a conversation
with the captain and Mr. Holbrook about the quantity of
stone that could daily be placed on board, without the
least. warning, he fell dead. Sergt. Wallis and some of his
men soon arrived with a stretcher, when the body was
taken to the residence of the deceased at Marine-terrace.
PENZANCE.
On Thursday evening, about 8 o’clock, the sad
intelligence quickly spread that Mr. Thomas Gill, the
trusted manager, for between 30 and 40 years, of the
Messrs. Freeman’s granite quarries at Lamorna and New
Mill, and of their business generally at Penzance, had died
suddenly. Capt. Spence, of the ketch Caroline, and Mr.
T. Holbrook, were in quest of Mr. Gill to see if they could
arrange for a cargo of granite, to be sent to Tilbury.
They met him on the Esplanade and, to chat over business,
stepped into the vaults of the Queen’s hotel.
Nothing wkeas observed to be amiss with Mr. Gill and he
was quite cheerful. He had, however, complained of a
pain in his chest on the previous night, but nothing
serious was apprehended.
Mr. Gill asked for a bottle of ginger-ale, and stood
to drink it, but whilst in the act and during a conversation
with the captain and Mr. Holbrook about the quantity of
stone that could daily be placed on board, without the
least. warning, he fell dead. Sergt. Wallis and some of his
men soon arrived with a stretcher, when the body was
taken to the residence of the deceased at Marine-terrace.
Mr. Gill, throughout his life, has enjoyed robust health,
and but for a serious affection of the eyes, some short
time since ( for which he had the best advice, and, with
care, recovered, ) it might be said that he was almost a
stranger to sickness.
He had reached to four or five years beyond the allotted
span, but seemed likely to live many more. Mr. Gill
always had the respect of Messrs. Freeman’s workmen and
the confidence of his employers,
AN INQUEST
and but for a serious affection of the eyes, some short
time since ( for which he had the best advice, and, with
care, recovered, ) it might be said that he was almost a
stranger to sickness.
He had reached to four or five years beyond the allotted
span, but seemed likely to live many more. Mr. Gill
always had the respect of Messrs. Freeman’s workmen and
the confidence of his employers,
AN INQUEST
was held on Friday afternoon, at 5 o'clock, before John
Roscorla, Esq., borough coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr.
Willam Richards, Alverton-street, was foreman, when the
following evidence was given :-—
Roscorla, Esq., borough coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr.
Willam Richards, Alverton-street, was foreman, when the
following evidence was given :-—
Fanny Sleeman, domestic servant with Mr. Gill for two years at
No. 16 Marine-terrace, the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Gill, deposed
that for the last few days her master, who she believed was 68,
had complained of his stomach but nothing else. She saw him
on Thursday, about 3 o’clock, when he came in to dinner and
had beefsteak pie, making no complaint whatever. As she was
otherwise engaged she did not see him again, but understood
that he left the house for the office between 3 and 4 o’clock. The
office is at Wherry-town.
Abdednego Thomas, a driver in the employ of the Messrs.
Freeman, had known deceased as manager of Messrs. Freeman’s
local quarries for 12 years, had driven Mr. Gill about (once
or twice every month) and did so on Thursday, going to
Sheffield and Lamorna, where Messrs. Freeman had quarries.
They returned to the Wherry-town offices between half-past 2 and
3 o'clock. At 10 minutes to four, and again at six witness saw
him and received business orders from him. At Lamorna he
complained of a pain in his chest. He partook of nothing in my
presence, all the day.
Alexander James, mason, of Street-an-nowan, saw Mr. Gill
about some work on Thursday evening, and met him on the
Promenade. They went together to the tap at the Queen’s hotel,
where Mr. Gill partook of a bottle of ginger-ale, saying that if
he was no better by to-morrow he should see the doctor. When
he complained some one suggested that he should take a little
something in the ginger-ale, but he declined, saying that he was
afraid of it. As I was talking to a man named Keast I heard a
sound, saw Mr. Gill fall, ran to help him up, put his hands in
water, &c. Mr. T. Holbrook, who happened to present, sent
for a doctor and I was present when he arrived, who very quickly
pronounced Mr. Gill to be dead.—By a juryman:—He was
perfectly sober and very cheerful.<
John Keast, working foreman af the Sheffield quarries, saw
deceased at those works on Thursday. Between 5 and 6 in the
afternoon he complained to witness, in the Wherry-town yard, of
a pain in his chest. Shortly after six witness saw Mr. Gill at the
Queen’s tap. He spoke to witness on business and made no
complaint. Witness heard deceased make some sound (not very
loud) and he fell to the ground.
Francis Ivey, foreman at the New Mill quarries, was present at
the tap when deceased died. He had previously complained of a
pain in the chest. Mr. Gill was talking to three of them when
he suddenly dropped on the floor, and in a few minutes his
pulse had stopped.
No. 16 Marine-terrace, the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Gill, deposed
that for the last few days her master, who she believed was 68,
had complained of his stomach but nothing else. She saw him
on Thursday, about 3 o’clock, when he came in to dinner and
had beefsteak pie, making no complaint whatever. As she was
otherwise engaged she did not see him again, but understood
that he left the house for the office between 3 and 4 o’clock. The
office is at Wherry-town.
Abdednego Thomas, a driver in the employ of the Messrs.
Freeman, had known deceased as manager of Messrs. Freeman’s
local quarries for 12 years, had driven Mr. Gill about (once
or twice every month) and did so on Thursday, going to
Sheffield and Lamorna, where Messrs. Freeman had quarries.
They returned to the Wherry-town offices between half-past 2 and
3 o'clock. At 10 minutes to four, and again at six witness saw
him and received business orders from him. At Lamorna he
complained of a pain in his chest. He partook of nothing in my
presence, all the day.
Alexander James, mason, of Street-an-nowan, saw Mr. Gill
about some work on Thursday evening, and met him on the
Promenade. They went together to the tap at the Queen’s hotel,
where Mr. Gill partook of a bottle of ginger-ale, saying that if
he was no better by to-morrow he should see the doctor. When
he complained some one suggested that he should take a little
something in the ginger-ale, but he declined, saying that he was
afraid of it. As I was talking to a man named Keast I heard a
sound, saw Mr. Gill fall, ran to help him up, put his hands in
water, &c. Mr. T. Holbrook, who happened to present, sent
for a doctor and I was present when he arrived, who very quickly
pronounced Mr. Gill to be dead.—By a juryman:—He was
perfectly sober and very cheerful.<
John Keast, working foreman af the Sheffield quarries, saw
deceased at those works on Thursday. Between 5 and 6 in the
afternoon he complained to witness, in the Wherry-town yard, of
a pain in his chest. Shortly after six witness saw Mr. Gill at the
Queen’s tap. He spoke to witness on business and made no
complaint. Witness heard deceased make some sound (not very
loud) and he fell to the ground.
Francis Ivey, foreman at the New Mill quarries, was present at
the tap when deceased died. He had previously complained of a
pain in the chest. Mr. Gill was talking to three of them when
he suddenly dropped on the floor, and in a few minutes his
pulse had stopped.
Mr. Roscorla said this was all the evidence. The jury
would share his regret in the awfully sudden death of an
old tradesman, who, in his sphere of life, would not be
easily replaced—a good and faithful servant, an estimable
townsman, and an excellent neighbour. He ( Mr. Roscorla )
had known him all his days and, therefore, went a little out
of his judicial functions to say that. Sad as was the demise
in its suddenness the death pointed to natural causes only,
as far as he could see.
The jury at once returned a verdict of death from natural
causes.
Cornishman - Thursday 08 March 1883
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000331/18830308/037/0005
Mr Thomas Gill, manager of Messrs Freeman and Sons
granite quarries in the Penzance district, died suddenly on
Thursday evening, this being the second sudden death in
the borough within two days. Deceased, who was 68 years
of age, visited the Sheffield and Lamorna quarries in the
morning, being driven there by Bendigo Thomas. Return-
ing to his home, Marine-terrace, in the afternoon, he had
dinner, and then went to his office at Wherrytown. There
he remained till the men left wo:k. Previously he had
arranged to meet at the Queen’s Hotel Francis Ivey and
Thomas Keast; foremen at the New Mill and the Sheffield
quarries respectively. He was crossing the Promenade on
his way thither when he was met by Alexander James,
mason, of Newlyn, who wanted to see him on business.
They both went to the tap. As he was descending the
steps Mr Gill complained of pains in his chest and said if
he did not feel better to-morrow he should go and see a
doctor, In the tap deceased ordered a bottle of ginger ale,
and .on some one suggesting that it would be cold for him
he had a pennyworth of spirit mixed with it. He only
drank a part of it. For about 20 minutes he chatted wit
Messrs James, Ivey and Keast, and also with a broker and
the captain of a vessel deceased was going to charter with
stone. Whilst in conversation with Ivey he suddenly fell
dead. A gurgle in his throat was all that was heard. Mr
W. S Bennett, surgeon, was fetched, but he could only
confirm the worst fears. The aid of Superintendent Olds
was sought and he saw to the removal of the body to.
Marine-terrace. Mr Gill had been in Messrs Freeman's
employ for upwards of 40 years and was held in high
esteem by them. For 30 years he had resided at
Penzance.
granite quarries in the Penzance district, died suddenly on
Thursday evening, this being the second sudden death in
the borough within two days. Deceased, who was 68 years
of age, visited the Sheffield and Lamorna quarries in the
morning, being driven there by Bendigo Thomas. Return-
ing to his home, Marine-terrace, in the afternoon, he had
dinner, and then went to his office at Wherrytown. There
he remained till the men left wo:k. Previously he had
arranged to meet at the Queen’s Hotel Francis Ivey and
Thomas Keast; foremen at the New Mill and the Sheffield
quarries respectively. He was crossing the Promenade on
his way thither when he was met by Alexander James,
mason, of Newlyn, who wanted to see him on business.
They both went to the tap. As he was descending the
steps Mr Gill complained of pains in his chest and said if
he did not feel better to-morrow he should go and see a
doctor, In the tap deceased ordered a bottle of ginger ale,
and .on some one suggesting that it would be cold for him
he had a pennyworth of spirit mixed with it. He only
drank a part of it. For about 20 minutes he chatted wit
Messrs James, Ivey and Keast, and also with a broker and
the captain of a vessel deceased was going to charter with
stone. Whilst in conversation with Ivey he suddenly fell
dead. A gurgle in his throat was all that was heard. Mr
W. S Bennett, surgeon, was fetched, but he could only
confirm the worst fears. The aid of Superintendent Olds
was sought and he saw to the removal of the body to.
Marine-terrace. Mr Gill had been in Messrs Freeman's
employ for upwards of 40 years and was held in high
esteem by them. For 30 years he had resided at
Penzance.
The Cornish Telegraph - Saturday 03 March 1883
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001617/18830303/079/0005
SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. GILL, OF PENZANCE - Thursday 08 March 1883
Cornishman - Thursday 08 March 1883
The Cornish Telegraph - Saturday 03 March 1883
| Owner of original | Cornishman |
| Date | 8 Mar 1883 |
| Linked to | Marine Terrace, Penzance; Freeman Granite Quarries Company, Penzance; Lamorna Granite Quarry, Lamorna; New Mill Granite Quarry, New Mill; The Queens Head and brewery, New Street, Penzance; Thomas Gill, Granite merchant; M4GG-T7W |
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