Elizabeth Mayger (1859 - 1864)

Born 1859 in South Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1864 at about age 5 in North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

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Biography

Elizabeth was born in 1859. She was the daughter of George Mayger and Catherine Dwyer. She passed away in 1864 as a result of an accident.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92260939/8387208 Dr. Woodforde, the Coroner, held an inquest on Monday morning, December 19th, at the Lord Melbourne Inn, Melbourne-street, North Adelaide, for the purpose oi enquiring into the circumstances connected with the death of a little child named Elizabeth Mayger, aged five years, who died the preceding (Sunday) morning from the effects of burning, A respectable Jury was empaneled, and Mr. A. Loutit was chosen foreman. Catherine Dwyer stated — I am not married. I cohabit with George Mayger, and we live together as man and wife. The deceased was George Mayger's child. I went out on Saturday evening to dig some potatoes, and presently heard screams. Ran into the room, and saw the child in flames. Threw a blanket round her, and knew nothing else. Left a candlestick and a box of matches on the window-ledge near the bed. Believe the child got at the matches; but Mrs. Glennen knows more about this than I do.

Anne Glenneu, wife of Patrick Glennen, laborer, said she lived near the last witness. Heard screams issuing from Mayger's house, and seeing Mrs. Mayger running to it she followed her. When she got in she saw that the child's chemise was on fire. Took her from the bed and laid her on the sofa, and applied what remedies she could think of. Asked the little girl how it happened, and she said she took two matches out of the box, and she struck one which ignited her night-dress. On searching the bed she found a match that had been struck, and another one which had not been lit.

The child died about half-past 1 o'clock on Sunday morning. Sent for medical assistance at once. Had known Catherine Dwyer a long time; she was a sober woman, and paid good attention to her children, besides treating them kindly, Henry Packer, North Adelaide, butcher, deposed that on Saturday morning, about half-past 7 o'clock, he saw Mrs. Glennen running towards Catherine Dwyer's house, and immediately after he heard screeching from the house. Saw some smoke escaping from the house, and, thinking that it was on fire, he ran to it, and went inside. Saw that Mrs. Glennen had got the child on the sofa, and was calling for something to put over her. Got some oil and flour, and then sent for the doctor, who came at once. The Coroner said it was evident that the child's death was caused by burning, and he could not help expressing his disgust at the carelessness manifested not only in that but in similar cases which had come under his notice. He would not say that Mrs. Dwyer had wilfully placed the matches within the girl's reach, for the evidence showed that she had always been very kind to her; but she was not free from blame or culpability in leaving matches about with such impunity. It must be recollected that these were not days of flint or steel, and that leaving matches about within children's reach was nearly as bad as allowing them to play with a flask of gunpowder. Having addressed a few words to Ms. Dwyer, better known as Mrs. Mayger, upon her neglect and carelessness, the Coroner left it to the Jury to agree to their decision.

The Jury, after a few minutes' consideration, returned the following verdict: — 'That the deceased, Elizabeth Mayger, died from the effects of accidental burning, caused by the said Elizabeth Mayger igniting a lucifer match and setting fire to her clothes.' They also added the subjoined rider : — ' The Jury desire to express their opinion that great carelessness has been manifested in leaving the matches within the reach of the young child.'

Sources

• https://www.geni.com/people/Elizabeth-Mayger/6000000091147842121?through=6000000091148377896
• Inquest: The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889) 20 December 1864: 2. Web. 4 Oct 2022