The State vs. the Dead Body of Sarah Ratcliff

Date: 
January 3, 1873

Deceased

Sarah Ratcliff
Sex: 
Female
Race: 
White
COD Category: 
Accident
COD: 
Burns
COD Inquest Finding: 

upon their oaths, do say: That the deceased came to her death by accedental burning on the plantation of Mr Isaac Smith on Tusday the 31t day of December 1872

Coroner

Coroner: 
H. D. Tiller
Coroner Title: 
Coroner

Location

Inquest Location: 
at Mr. Isaac Smith's
County: 
Chesterfield County, SC

Source

South Carolina Department of Archives & History
Columbia, SC
Inquest Images: 
L13063_0174_01.jpg
L13063_0174_02.jpg
L13063_0174_03.jpg
L13063_0174_04.jpg
L13063_0174_05.jpg
Transcription: 

Isaac Smith Sworn Says . . . he saw Lydia Ratcliff (mother of the deceased) coming towards his house crying and making a noise . . . [he] asked her what was the matter She said oh my child is burnt to death. . . others went to the house and found deceased lying in the floor on her face with all the clothing burnt off her. . .

Get in touch

  • Department of History
    220 LeConte Hall, Baldwin Street
    University of Georgia
    Athens, GA 30602-1602
  • 706-542-2053
  • admin@ehistory.org

eHistory was founded at the University of Georgia in 2011 by historians Claudio Saunt and Stephen Berry

Learn More about eHistory

Supporters

+ American Council of Learned Societies
+ DigiLab, Willson Center for Humanities and Arts, University of Georgia