William Henry Barrett (1851 - 1901)

Born 22 Dec 1851 in Jamberoo, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Died 7 Dec 1901 at age 49 in Eurunderee, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kerri McCarron [send private message]

Biography

William Henry Barrett was born on 22 Dec 1851 in Jamberoo, New South Wales, Australia, son of Henry Barrett (1816–1892) and Ann (Eddlestone) Barrett (bef. 1819–1883).^[1]

His siblings were:

1. John Barrett (1841–1911)
2. Agnes (Barrett) Ovington (1846–1923)
3. Ellen (Barrett) Jarrett (1848–1924)
4. William Henry Barrett [1854-1901]
5. Elizabeth (Barrett) Collins (1854–1875)
6. Nancy (Barrett) Tracey (abt. 1857–1932)

He was never married.

William died on 7 Dec 1901 in Eurunderee, New South Wales, aged 49, a coroners inquest ruling it an accidental self inflicted shooting. ^[2]

New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Coroners' Inquests, 1821-1937^[3]

Name William Barrett

Birth Year1852

Birth Place Wollongong, New South Wales

Death Year Abt 1901

Death Place Eurundery; Near Mudgee

Inquest Date 09/12/1901 (9 Dec 1901)

Inquest Place School Residence; Euremderyne; Mudgee

Age 49

Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 12 Dec 1901 Page 10 ^[4]

The Eurunderee Tragedy.

Death of William Barrett.

Verdict of Accidental Shooting.

In our issue of Monday last we published particulars of the finding of the body of William Barrett at Eurunderee, with a large gun shot wound in his head. We also published the first portion of the evidence given at the magisterial enquiry, which was resumed at 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon, and was not concluded when we went to press.

The following evidence additional to that we have already published was given. J. Alexander Holden, of Mudgee, deposed he had known deceased for 16 years; he was addicted to drink, and when drunk was very quarrelsome, and always suffered greatly after a spree ; about three or four weeks ago deceased was at witness' mother's hotel, and asked him to have a drink, saying that it would be the last they would have together, witness asked him whether he was going away, and replied "No," but I will be dead before long ; witness said " Nonsense, you are young yet to die, there's nothing much the matter with you ;" he replied " I think I may be settled, and if not I'll settle myself as I am about tired of it :" had heard deceased make similar remarks before.

James Harvey, Senior-sergeant, stationed at Mudgee, deposed to receiving a message from William Leonard, stating that Barrett had been found dead in his hut : witness went with Leonard and found the dead body of deceased on the bed; the body, which was partially dressed, was covered by the clothes ; the body was on its left side, the left arm lying in front of the body and the right arm folded across the breast, the knees were slightly bent, and the head on the pillow ; on the base of the skull there was a very large wound, 2 to 2½ inches in diameter ; the body was much decomposed ; lying at the back of the body on the bunk, with the stock down towards the end of the bed and the muzzle pointing to deceased's head, was the gun produced ; both barrels were empty, but had been recently fired, and pieces of exploded cap were on the left nipple ; H. Cox and others identified the gun as the property of deceased ; from the position of the body and the gun it would appear that deceased must have been lying down with the gun by his back when it exploded ; it might have been set off accidentally by the bed clothes catching the trigger, or deceased may have let it off by touching it with his foot ; on searching the hut I found some letters, one from deceased's brother, John Barratt, of Kadina, near Parkes, and some from his sister, Mrs. Tracy, Willow Glen, Coonamble.

Ernest Sydney Hawthorne, registered medical practitioner, deposed : that he had examined the body that morning and it was much decomposed ; there was a large gun shot wound at the back of the neck and head, and death must have been instantaneous ; the body was in a natural position ; deceased could not have fired the gun purposely ; his feet were not on the trigger, and even if he had pulled it with his toe, he could not have got his feet into the position they were in when the body was found without displacing the gun ; the trigger might have been let off accidentally ; a shot fired from the door could not have caused the wound.

The Police Magistrate found that deceased came by his death through a gunshot wound self-inflicted, and that such shooting was accidental. An order was made that the deceased's effects be sold by the police to defray funeral expenses.

Sources

1. ↑ *BIRTH N.S.W. Births ,Deaths and Marriages. BARRETT WILLIAM H1701/1851 V18511701 121A F= HENRY M= ANN District
2. ↑ *DEATH N.S.W. Births ,Deaths and Marriages. BARRETT WILLIAM 14402/1901 F= HENRY M= ANN district MUDGEE
3. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Coroners' Inquests, 1821-1937 State Archives NSW; Series: 2225; Item: 7937; Roll: 343
4. ↑ Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 12 Dec 1901 Page 10 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/156177295