S. Australia births show: b65 p543. Shows mother as Margaret Farmer.
S. Australia death records show b35 p358. Resided district of Gil..., SA at time of death.
The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : Thursday 10 June 1869)
On Monday, the 7th inst., an inquest was held before Mr. R. M. Cole, J.P., Coroner, and a Jury of 14, of whom Mr. Mager was chosen foreman, about three miles north of Rhynie, to enquire into the death of Margaret CHATFIELD, a child aged about 10 months, who, it appeared, died a few days previous, but the parents being unable to obtain the burial certificate, an inquest was ordered. The Jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was adduced: Amos CHATFIELD, father of deceased, deposed to having gone away to his work, on Saturday, 29th of May, and when his wife brought him his dinner, she said the child was ill and vomiting, and could not keep anything on its stomach. When he came home in the evening he did not think anything very bad was the matter, and the child remained in the same state for two or three days. On Wednesday it got worse, and he said if it was not better in the morning, he would go or send for the doctor. The next morning when it was taken out of bed he could see there were signs of death, and he thought it useless then to go for a doctor. By the Coroner: The child died on Thursday night about 10 o'clock. The child was perfectly healthy previous to the 29th May. By the Jury: The child's mother gave it some castor oil, but it had no effect. Mary CHATFIELD, sister of last witness, deposed that she had known the child from its birth. It was always delicate. It had hooping cough at seven weeks of age and it never seemed to thrive after. First noticed the child ill on Saturday week. It was vomiting. Gave it no medicine. Did not know if any one else gave it any. By the Foreman: Had been nurse to the child; it was brought up with the bottle. Wm. Boothy, a neighbor, deposed to being present at the death of the child. Had seen the child frequently and thought from its appearance it would not live. Caroline Boothy deposed that Mrs. Chatfield told her the little girl was bad on Saturday, the 29th, and she (witness) went over to see it, and it looked very ill. Told the mother she would not raise the baby. Thought so from its appearance, having buried five of her own children. Had some experience in children. Did not give any advice. Believed the child was teething. Did not think anything could have been done for it. A. W. Walls, duly qualified medical practitioner, of Auburn, deposed to having seen the body. There were no marks of violence visible. From outward appearance, should not think the child had been properly nourished. The child was no larger than one of three months of age. By the Jury: It was quite common for children to die in teething, when of delicate health. The size of the child would be accounted for by its being deprived of its mother's breast. Children brought up by hand seldom thrived in this colony. By the Coroner: By not being properly nourished he meant being deprived of its natural nourishment. This being the whole of the evidence, the Jury, without retiring, returned a verdict that Margaret Chatfield died from natural causes.
