Life story retold by Paul Beecroft
IN
LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF
JESSE
THE LAST SURVIVING AND DEEPLY BELOVED
SON OF
ALFRED & MARY ANN PALMER
WHO WAS ACCIDENTLALLY DROWNED. AUG. 11.1881
AGED 24 YEARS
IN SUCH AN HOUR AS YE THINK NOT. THE FINAL SUMMONS COMETH.
ALSO OF
KATE. SECOND DAUGHTER OF
ALFRED & MARY ANN PALMER
WHO DIED SEPTEMBER 29. 1886
AGED 31 YEARS
HIS COMPASSIONS FAIL NOT. THEY ARE NEW
EVERY MORNING. LAM HL. 22. 23
Jesse PALMER was born in December 1856 and Kate was born in March 1855. They were two of the children born to Alfred and Mary Ann PALMER. The Palmers had five children and Jesse was the only boy. Alfred PALMER was well known in Reading. He was a Butcher and over the years had a Butcher’s shop in Reading Town Centre. In 1881 the census shows the family living at 82, Friar Street, which is thought to have been located over the shop but later in the year they moved to 82, Broad Street. Kate has now left home but her whereabouts are not known. Jesse lives with his parents and siblings. No occupation is shown for him, but it is thought that he worked in his father’s shop and was also a Butcher.
On Thursday 11th August 1881, a tragic incident occurred. Many newspapers reported on the incident one of which was the Reading Observer.
SAD CASE OF DROWNING AT READING
A very lamentable case of drowning occurred at Reading, on Thursday. In the afternoon of that day, Mr. Jesse Palmer, only son of Mr. Alfred Palmer, butcher, of Broad-Street, Reading, hired an out-rigged boat from Mr. East, boat builder, &c., near the Kennet’s mouth, for the purpose of rowing to Sonning. Mr. A. Ball accompanied him to the boat house, but being unable to swim and noticing that the river was very choppy and a strong wind blowing, he declined to enter the boat – an outrigged gig, constructed to carry two persons. Mr. Palmer, who from experience in rowing was thoroughly able to manage the boat, then pulled off towards the River Thames. Just at the point where the Kennet joins the Thames, there is at times a tremendous under-current occasioned by the two streams, amounting almost to a whirlpool, and immediately Mr. Palmer’s boat had issued from the mouth of the river it was in difficulty. The wind was blowing almost a hurricane, and Mr. Palmer’s efforts to turn the craft in the direction of Sonning were futile. In his endeavours to pull the boat round, he missed his stroke, and a strong gust of wind capsized the craft and precipitated it occupant into the water. Mr. Palmer rose at the other side of the boat, but though he could swim a little, he did not appear to struggle, but immediately sank, never again rising to the surface. A man named Harris put off to his assistance, as did others, including Mr. East, but it was not till seven o’clock that the body was recovered, near the spot where the accident happened. It was removed to the deceased’s father’s house in Broad-Street. The deceased was in the 25th year of his age, and unmarried, and much sympathy is felt with this friends at his melancholy and untimely death.
THE INQUEST
Was held last evening at Mr. Palmer’s house (where the body is lying), before Mr. G.C. Field, deputy-coroner, and the following evidence was adduced:-
Mr. H. Pigott, brother-in-law of the deceased having identified the body.
Henry Harris, a hawker of 7, Albert Cottages, Cumberland-road, said: Yesterday afternoon I was scrubbing a yacht near the Kennet’s Mouth, and saw the deceased coming down the Kennet towards the Thames. He attempted to turn towards Sonning, but the wind prevented him doing so. He pulled with the right oar, but could not get the boat round. He then appeared to miss his stroke, and at the same time a gust of wind blew the boat right over and he went down under it. I pulled off to his assistance, but he sank before I could reach him. I saw his arm and knee, but he did not attempt to swim. I don’t know whether he could swim or not.
By a juryman: I don’t think his feet were in a strap on the footboard. When the boat capsized the deceased went over the boat on the Sonning side and came up on the other side. The boat overturned about twenty yards from the Oxfordshire shore. I assisted in dragging for the body, which was recovered about seven o’clock in the evening.
Mr. Pigott, re-called, said the deceased could swim a little, about the length of the swimming bath.
George Knight, junr., of New Island, Lower Caversham, said: I heard of the accident at about ten minutes to seven o’clock. I went at once in a boat, and in about ten minutes found the body in about mid-stream, with a long rake. I brought the body to the Berks shore, and the Rev. Mr. Kelly, who arrived soon afterwards, told me he represented his friends, and I was to take the body to the Caversham Lock. I took it there, and handed it over to Mr. Pigott. He was taken home in a cab.
Mr. East, the boat builder, said: I knew Mr. Palmer well. He hired a boat of me yesterday, at about half-past three, and rowed down the river. I watched him out of the Kennet, and then lost sight of him. A few minutes afterwards I heard that he was over. I jumped into a boat with one of my men and we rowed as hard as we could to the spot. I saw the boat; it was turned over. I tried to bottom the river with my scull but could not, the water being about ten feet deep. I sent for the drags at Blake’s Lodge, and other drags were afterwards obtained, but the body was not recovered till the evening.
By the jury: He felt quite at home in the boat, and could manage it well. It was 2ft. 8in. wide and 21ft. long. It was constructed to carry two persons. Had he had a coxswain, probably the boat would not have gone over. He brought a friend with him, but he did not care to get into the boat. The wind was blowing tremendously hard at the time. There were no straps on the board. There were no draws at the house near the ferry at the mouth of the Kennet, but there ought to be. It is a dangerous spot where the accident happened. It is quite an eddy sometimes. He did not think the boat could have struck the deceased hard enough to render him senseless, and so prevent his swimming. Four persons could manage to get into the boat.
The coroner having summed up.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidentally drowned,” the foreman (Mr. Batho) observing that no doubt the sudden immersion and consequent fright was the reason the deceased did not attempt to swim.
The jury request the Coroner to write to Capt. Etheridge informing him that they considered the spot where the deceased was drowned dangerous for boating, and that as it was much frequented by the public a lifesaving apparatus should be kept at the ferry house adjoining.
Jesse was later buried in Reading Old Cemetery.
Unfortunately nothing is known about Kate. It would appear that when she died she was living in Leicester. Her cause of death is not known. She was brought back to Reading and buried with her brother Jesse.
Division 48, Row T, Plot 2