Death of John Christopher [1805 - 1864] of Evershot, Dorset
Transcribed by Michael Russell April 2005
The following account appeared in the Dorset County express on 31st January 1865
MELANCHOLY DEATH THROUGH DRINK AT EVERSHOT
An inquest was held on Thursday ,29th ult [last month] at Acorn Inn Evershot, on the body of John Christopher a pig dealer of that place who met with his death under very mysterious circumstances on Tuesday night - Henry Christopher said he lived at Broadmayne and was a pig dealer.
On Tuesday morning he left Evershot to go to Hermitage with deceased, who was his father-in-law. They went into Mr. Bere's public house and had two glasses of brandy and water each. In answer to questions from jurors Christopher said they had three quarts of cider and gin at Mr Seymour’s, at Hermitage two glasses of brandy and water each before dinner, three glasses afterwards, and a wineglassful of neat brandy before they started for Evershot. In getting into the cart again after opening a gate, witness said he was thrown down and run over through the horse starting before he was prepared. Being stunned and not knowing where he was he wandered away - The father-in-law who was far from sober, managed to upset the cart, and was found under it quite dead.
The Coroner in summing up pointed out the effect of the drink and hoped it would be a warning to Henry Christopher.
Genealogical Notes:- John Christopher was baptised on 20th October 1805 in Cheselborne the illegitimate and only son of Mary Christopher of Tyneham. He was a butcher by trade and married Hester Cox in her parish of Evershot on 5th September 1836. She was the youngest of four daughters of a tailor William Cox and his wife Mary.
John and Hester had six children in Evershot and their daughter Caroline Christopher married Henry Christopher in the June quarter of 1859 in Evershot. Henry Christopher, a pig and cattle dealer from Broadmayne, had been baptised there on 31st July 1836 the 2nd child of George Christopher from Upwey by his first wife Emma Lock.
At the time of the accident John Christopher was a widower having lost Hester his wife in 1862 when she was 53 years old. As reported above John died on Tuesday 27th December 1864 when he was 59 and was buried in Evershot. This meant that Caroline and her siblings lost both parents prematurely in the space of 19 months.