Way Toy
As part of the Chinese Historical Wrongs Legacy Initiative, we’ve digitized a small selection of inquests and inquiries from 1872 to 1934, found in series GR-0431. These were chosen to reflect the experiences of early Chinese immigrants to B.C. – their living and working conditions, and their unfortunate accidental or unusual deaths. They range from a woman working in a brothel in Barkerville who died of natural causes to three sawmill workers who died from malnutrition. Learn more.
*All transcriptions are provided by volunteers, and the accuracy of the transcriptions is not guaranteed. Please be sure to verify the information by viewing the image record, or visiting the BC Archives in person.
*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum. Some materials may contain content that is racist, sexist or otherwise offensive. The Royal BC Museum is only the custodian of archival materials; the content does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Royal BC Museum.
Current Page Transcription [edit] [history]
[CORONER.]
INQUISITION.
District Cariboo British Columbia
An Inquisition indented taken at Barkerville Cariboo British Columbia, the twenty second day of May in the 34 year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria, before me, Thomas Bell, gentleman, one of the Coroners for our Lady the Queen, for the Cariboo District aforesaid, upon the view of the body of Way Toy then and there and within the jurisdiction of the said Coroner, lying dead, upon the oaths of J.B. Leighton, Harry Wash, John Cameron, J. Newland, Wallis Murray, Wm Halfpenny, Charles House, Robert Wiley, J. M. Marshall, Edward Kennedy, Robert Heath, Harry Goldstein good and lawful men of Barkerville aforesaid, in the said district of Cariboo, who being now here sworn and charged to enquire, on the part of our said Lady the Queen, when, where, how, and after what manner, the said Way Toy of Barkerville came to his death, do say upon their oath, that the said Way Toy was found dead in China Town Barkerville on the 21st day of May 1862 about 7 [illegible] in the evening and that the cause of his death is unknown.
BC Archives, GR-0431 Box 1 File 3 / BRITISH COLUMBIA, ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.