Thomas was born about 1822. [1]
He died in Thames suddenly on 12 November 1900. [2] His death & subsequent inquest were reported in the press as follows:
"Sudden Deaths. A very sudden death occurred at 10.30 a.m. today at Mr. J. W. Hall's chemist shop in Owen street. It appears that Mr. Thomas Fogarty (who is well-known as an old resident of Hape Creek) went to Mr. Hall's a few minutes after ten o'clock in order to procure a bottle of cough mixture. While Mr. Hall was obtaining it for him, Mr. Fogerty sat down, and shortly afterwards Mr. Hall heard him breathing heavily. He at once went to his assistance, and called in Mr. Patterson, who lives next door. As it was seen that Mr. Fogarty was very ill, and possibly dying, Dr. Lapraik was telephoned for, and arrived in a very short time, but, after examining Mr. Fogarty, could do nothing but declare that life was extinct. The deceased was 73 (sic) years of age, and was engaged in mining in the Hape Creek for a number of years, until failing health compelled him to give up work. He was an old age pensioner. The circumstances were reported to the coroner (Mr. A. Bruce), who ordered a. post mortem to be made. An inquest will be held at the courthouse at 4:30 this afternoon" Thames Star, volume xxxix, issue 9790, 12 November 1900, page 2 [3]
"Two sudden deaths occurred here to-day, both victims being old residents........The other death was that of a very well known prospector in the Hape Creek district, Mr. Thomas Fogarty, aged 78 years. This morning, shortly after ten o'clock, he proceeded to Mr. Hall's chemist shop, and asked for some cough medicine. Whilst Mr. Hall was procuring the same, Fogarty sat down on a chair, and appeared to go off to sleep almost immediately. Thinking the old man was tired, Mr. Hall went on getting the medicine, and when it was ready, he spoke to deceased, and handed him the medicine, but as he did not respond, Mr. Hall went to him and tried to arouse Lim. . Finding he was in a bad way, Mr. Hall used restoratives to him, but without effect, and Mr. Hall then came to the conclusion that death had occurred. The police were immediately communicated with, and Dr. Lapraik sent for, but when the latter gentleman appeared a few minutes later, he could only pronounce life extinct. An inquest was held this afternoon by Mr. Albert Bruce, coroner, when Dr. Lapraik, who had in the meantime made a postmortem examination, deposed that death was due from fatty degeneration of the heart. A verdict to this effect was returned by the jury. Deceased was a widower, and an old age pensioner. Since the death of his wife, some six years ago, be had lived alone." New Zealand Herald, volume xxxvii, issue 11528, 13 November 1900, (the day after) page 5 [4]
"INQUEST.
An inquest was held yesterday afternoon upon the remains of the late Thomas Fogarty at the Courthouse, before Mr A. Bruce, Coroner, the following jury being empanelled : Messrs E. W. Lowe (foreman), W. J. Cloxton, R. M; Peace, W. Martin, T. Dunn, and A. Vowles.
Sergt. Clarke was present to watch the proceedings on behalf of the police.
After being sworn in, the jury proceeded to the public morgue to view the body, after which the following evidence was taken:
Dr. Lapraik deposed that he was called yesterday morning, shortly after half past 10 o'clock to Mr Hall's shop, the chemist, in Owen street. On arrival there he found an elderly man sitting on a chair in an apparently natural, position, and as if asleep. On examination, witness found he was dead. Death had apparently taken place just a few minutes previously. In the afternoon witness made a post mortem examination. There were no evidences of any wounds or bruises on the body. The mouth was closed, and there was, no smell from it. The pupils of the eyes were normal. The examination of the lungs showed old standing bronchitis. The heart was dilated and full of dark blood and very much degenerated. The stomach was practically empty, and the-kidneys showed signs of old standing degeneration. The intestines were normal. The cause of death was, in witness's opinion, fatty degeneration of the heart.
Mr J. W. Hall, chemist, deposed that deceased came to his shop between 10 and half past yesterday morning, and asked for an article that witness had to open a box to procure. While witness was opening the box deceased stood for a minute or two and then sat down. In a, minute or so deceased's head leant forward, and witness thought he was tired and going to sleep. He shortly afterwards breathed a little heavily, but as the medicine he asked for was a cough medicine witness thought he had asthma. On holding out the medicine to deceased the latter took no notice of it. Witness shook him slightly, but getting no response, witness administered restoratives and ammonia, but without any effect. Witness then examined him carefully and felt for his pulse, but eventually came to the conclusion he was dead. Witness then communicated with the police, and they sent for Dr Lapraik. On the arrival of the doctor, that gentleman found that life was extinct. Witness did not know the deceased by name.
To Sergeant Clarke: Deceased was decidedly sober. He had no medicine whilst in witness' shop.
Mary Donnelly, who deposed that she lived with her parents at Hape Creek, said she had seen the body at the morgue and recognised is as being the body of Thomas Fogarty, who was about 73 years of age. Deceased was her grandfather, who was a widower. She last saw him alive about 8 o'clock on Sunday evening. He then appeared to be in his usual state of health. Deceased had a house and a section of ground in the Hape Creek district. Could not say whether his life was insured or not. He was an old age pensioner. Deceased was a miner. Had not heard him make any complaints of being unwell lately. He was a sober man and of temperate habits. No one lived with deceased since his wife died about six years ago. He had left a will.
Constable White., stationed at Thames, deposed that at about twenty minutes to eleven yesterday morning a message was received at the police station from Mr. Hall's chemist, stating that a man was in his shop apparently dying. Witness was directed by Sergeant Clarke to go to Mr. Hall's shop, and on arriving there found the deceased in what appeared to be sleepy state. After looking at him closely witness advised Mr. Hall to send for a doctor. When Dr. Lapraik came he found life to be extinct. With the assistance of Constable Stevens witness took the body of the deceased to the public morgue. On searching deceased's clothes a bank book was found containing a deposit of £12 6s in the Savings Bank, also £1 18s in cash, one penknife, one pipe, one bunch of keys, a rosary and. leather bag.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony: "That deceased died from fatty degeneration of the heart."" Thames Star, volume xxxix, issue 9791, 13 November 1900, page 3 [5]
He was buried in an unmarked grave, being Plot 3PUBL-PLOT-2038 at Shortland Cemetery Thames, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, New Zealand, when he joined his wife Mary, who had predeceased him in 1894. Here is the Find A Grave reference: Find A Grave: Memorial #175649688 (Suggested corrected to age at death as quoted from an erroneous death notice & press article. 22-Oct-2022 Simon Hardy )
Check for copy of will when next at Archives NZ Simon Hardy
Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
Thomas is 27 degrees from Emeril Lagasse, 24 degrees from Nigella Lawson, 19 degrees from Maggie Beer, 42 degrees from Mary Hunnings, 24 degrees from Joop Braakhekke, 38 degrees from Michael Chow, 28 degrees from Ree Drummond, 23 degrees from Paul Hollywood, 25 degrees from Matty Matheson, 31 degrees from Martha Stewart, 35 degrees from Danny Trejo and 35 degrees from Molly Yeh on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.