Unnamed Infant Betts (1871 - 1871)

Born 20 Apr 1871 in Nelson Creek, Grey, West Coast, New Zealand

Ancestors

Died 20 Apr 1871 at age 0 in Nelson Creek, Grey, West Coast, New Zealand

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Biography

Unnamed BETTS, child of Henry Fitzpatrick BETTS and Catherine HURLEY, was born on 20 April 1871 in Nelson Creek, Grey, New Zealand ^[1] and died on 20 April 1871 in Nelson Creek, Grey, New Zealand ^[2] .

Sources

1. ↑ National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past.
2. ↑ National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past.

1. National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past.
Grey River Argus 24 April 1871 Page 2: [1]
West Coast Times 25 April 1871 Page 2: [2]
Wellington Independent 29 April 1871 Page 3: [3]
New Zealand Mail 6 May 1871 Page 4: [4]
The Grey River Argus, April 24, 1871, Page 2: [5]
An inquest was held at the Police Camp, Camptown, on Saturday, the 22nd instant, before C. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M., on the body of Catherine Betts, who died at Nelson Creek on the previous day. Henry Betts, the husband of deceased, stated that his wife was taken ill on Thursday, at 2 o'clock p.m. Mrs Letcher, a neighbor, was sent for, and attended his wife during the birth of the child which took place at 9 p.m. on the same day. The deceased appeared to be all right, but about two o'clock the following morning she called him and requested him to take her in his arms, which he did, and she expired a few moments afterwards. His wife had a presentiment that she would not survive the birth of this child, and she gave as a reason for the belief that her mother died at the birth of her fourth child. His wife had three children previous to this one. Every attention was paid her, and he had no cause to attach blame to any person. His wife told him she had a fall a few days before her confinement. She said she was considerably hurt at the time, but did not complain afterwards. At this stage the inquest was adjourned to Nelson Creek, about seven miles distant, to take the evidence of Mrs Letcher. On the jury re-assembling, at the house of Mr Richard Letcher, at Try Again Terrace, Mrs Mary Anne Letcher deposed that she was requested to go to see deceased, she appeared to be in good spirits, but said she did not think she would get over her illness as her mother had died with her fourth child, She told deceased if she spoke in that manner she would not stay with her any longer. The child was born at five minutes past 9 in the evening. It breathed once before it died. Deceased told witness she had a fall while coming from the cabbage garden, and that she lay for fifteen minutes on the ground. She dwelt a good deal on the idea that she would not survive. She died about two o'clock in her husband's arms. The witness stated that she was not a professional midwife, but she had considerable experience in such matters, and was the mother of a large family herself. The jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes.".