Kentish Gazette, 10 December 1839.

Sudden Death.

On Monday last an inquest was held at the "Duncan's Head," Gibraltar Place, Chatham, before R. Hinde, Esq., touching the death of Captain Belcher, R.N. who died suddenly at his residence on Sunday.

From the evidence adduced it appeared that the deceased, who was 62 years of age, had been unwell for some considerable time.

The jury, under the advice of the coroner, returned a verdict of "Died by the visitation of God."

Kentish Gazette, 24 May 1842.

Chatham May 19th.

This day a jury assembled at the "Duncan's Head" Public House, New Road, Chatham, to investigate the circumstances attendant upon the death of two men name Thomas Turner and William Tyler, whose lives were lost on Monday night last, while emptying a cesspool in Best Street.

The coroner, Mr J N Dudlow, after having sworn the jury, repaired to the stables of the Inn, and took a view of the bodies, whither they had been conveyed to await the coroner's inquisition.

The first witness examines was Robert Taylor, brother of the deceased William Taylor. He stated that his brother was a bricklayer, and he had been employed in making a cesspool adjoining to another cesspool on the premises of Mr Farmer, Best Street.

The new Cesspool was 19 feet deep, and the old one 9 feet; a stage was erected in the new one about 9 feet below the surface of the earth.

On Monday night the deceased, William Tyler and Thomas Turner, went down into the hole and made an aperture, and the soil ran through. Witness remind above; after which witness's brother, with a crowbar, enlarged the hole, and the soil run out faster.

Very soon afterwards witness heard his brother cry out, "Dear me, I can hardly breathe;" when almost in an instantly fell into the soil. Witness called to Turner, and said, "For God's sake put the rope down and fetch him up." Turner did so. He, however, fell in also.

Mr Dunstall, who was then on the stage, called out for the rope, and before he could be brought up he fell and fainted; he did not fall into the soil.

Witness and a person named Farmer pulled out Mr Dunstall. Mr Dunstall was the master.

Every precaution was taken; a candle was kept burning down in the hole;  they therefore considered there was no danger.

Assistants was procured.

Witness's brother and Turner were got out, but they were quite dead. Witness can speak positively that both men understood their work. Witnesses brother was 35 years of age, and Turner 34 years old. This evidence was corroborated by the other person's present, and the jury, after some little consideration, returned a verdict accidentally suffocated.

The soil in which the men fell was only 3 feet deep. The two men were married. Tyler has left a wife and five children, Turner a wife and three children, and bore a very excellent character.

South Eastern Gazette, 12 March, 1860.

Conviction of Publicans.

The following licensed victuallers of Chatham were summoned before the magistrates at Rochester, on Friday last, on the information of Police-sergeant Fisher, and convicted in various penalties, for having their houses open for the sale of liquors at prohibited hours on Sunday.

Matthew Geere, "Duncan’s Head," New-road, fined 10s. and costs.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 27 February 1866.

Inquest.

On Tuesday last an inquest was held before T. Hills, Esq., coroner, at the “Duncan’s Head Tavern,” New-road, on the body of James Ramsey Baillie, aged 32, who died suddenly that morning. The deceased was carpenter on board the Great Eastern steamer, and was in the habit of going to his daughter-in-law's house in this town once a fortnight for a day or two. On the previous evening he arrived from the Great Eastern, and went to bed, apparently in his usual health. On the following morning the deceased not making his appearance his bed­room was entered, when he was found lying in bed quite dead. Mr. Tribe, surgeon, who had examined the body, said he had no doubt death arose from disease of the heart.

The jury delivered a verdict of “Found dead.”