Chinaman (Name Unknown)
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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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.
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[Coroner] INQUISITION British Columbia New Westminster District
An Inquisition indented taken at New Westminster City, British Columbia, the 14th of June in the A.D. 1879 before me, Charles Newland Trew, gentleman, Coroner for our Lady the Queen, for the District aforesaid, upon the view of the body of a Chinaman then and there and within the jurisdiction of the said Coroner, lying dead, uon the oaths of
D.F. Creighton Thos. Davis H.W. Schadwick Jacob Bunden George Clark George E. Underwood
Good and lawful men of District aforesaid, in the Province, who being now here sworn and charged to enquire, on the part of our said Lady the Queen when, how, and after what manner, the said Chinaman (name unknown), a Chinaman came to his death, do say upon their oath, that
BC Archives, GR-0431 Box 2 File 5 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Inquisitions / inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.