South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 1 May 1849.

Nettlestead.

An inquest was held at the "Kent Arms," on the 28th ult., before J. N. Dudlow, Esq., and a respectable jury, touching the death of a fine girl, aged 2 years and 6-months, named Mary Cronk, who was found drowned in a dip well at the back of her father's house, on Friday, the 27th.

It appeared that the child was left with other children by her mother, while the latter went to do her work upstairs, and on missing her she asked where she was, and they said they had not seen her.
On search being made, she was found in the water, quite dead.

The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

South Eastern Gazette, 29 May, 1860.

NETTLESTEAD.

Suicide or a Young Woman.

An inquest was held on the 24th inst., before J. N. Dudlow, Esq., coroner, at the "Kent Arms," on the body of Elizabeth Middleton, aged 23 years, servant to Miss Jeffery, of Foxpitts, West Farleigh, who was found drowned in the river Medway, on the previous day.

William Middleton, brother of the deceased, said he saw her on the 20th inst., at his father’s. She seemed then as usual, but next day she was missing. On the 22nd her clothes were found by the side of the river, and witness found her body opposite the station. There were 3s. 10d. in her pocket and two bracelets. He did not know that there was anything to press upon her mind.

Bridget Middleton, sister of the deceased, said that on Sunday, the 20th, she accompanied the latter part of the way home from Bow-hill. William Smith overtook them, and they went to the Three Wents, when they parted — the deceased to go to Foxpitts, as witness supposed. Her sister seemed as usual.

William Smith, the young man above referred to, said deceased did not seem to him in her usual spirits. He had never seen her so low before.

Miss Jeffery, of Foxpitts, said deceased was her servant. She went to her father’s on Sunday, after church, but did not return. There were two cheques at the Maidstone bank, which were forgeries, and it was supposed they were drawn by the deceased. She had lived in her service two years, and witness had always had a very good opinion of her.

Mr. H. M. Gould, surgeon, gave evidence as to the death being caused by drowning; and the jury returned a verdict that deceased destroyed herself, being in an unsound state of mind.