Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper
Articles
Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier Saturday 01 Mar 1947
Page 6 Column 5
Centenarian Dies After Fall
Mrs. LENTON, of Stocklinch
A Stocklinch (Ilminster) centenarian, Mrs. Sarah LENTON, widow, who was 100 in October last, died on Tuesday morning in the house where she had lived ever since her marriage over 70 years ago. A fall in her bedroom accelerated death.
Mrs. LENTON had been, for her age surprisingly active and well recently despite the severe weather, but had had a cold. Her daughter, with whom she lived, was in an adjoining room when she heard her mother fall. She had been sitting looking out of her bedroom window, and it is thought the mishap occurred when Mrs. LENTON was preparing to go downstairs. She could walk alone with the aid of a stick, and went downstairs most days (before the accident) with assistance.
At an inquest conducted yesterday (Thursday) by the West Somerset Coroner (Col. Geoffrey P. CLARKE), the daughter, Miss Annie LENTON, said she heard a bump and found her mother lying on her side near the window. She had probably struck the wardrobe in falling.
Dr. J. L. MUNDEN, Ilminster, said Mrs. LENTON had a fracture of the upper end of the left femur and she was suffering from shock. Death was due to bronchitis accelerated by the fall.
Remarking that as there had been a fall he was bound to hold an inquest, the Coroner said in the case of a lady who had reached the ripe old age of 100 years he would have liked to dispense with it. It was his duty, however, to satisfy himself that she had been well looked after, and he was satisfied that she had been looked after with extreme care, and the fall was accidental. He returned a verdict accordingly.
<NOTES: Sarah LENTON is Sarah DICKER daughter of William DICKER, married John LENTON>