The Finney Family of Wales

Christened Benjamin but known as John

Living with his parents at 90 Hagley Rd, Hasbury in 1851
Brickmaker living with his father in Cherrington in 1861
Engine fitter living at St Georges in 1868
Engine Fitter at West St, Shifnal (Wombridge?) in 1871
Living at Hill Terrace, St Georges working as an engine fitter in 1873
Living in Stafford Rd, Oakengates, Shropshire in 1881, working as acontactor.
Living at Stafford Rd, Oakengates, Shropshire in 1891, working as a coalmerchant
Living at Stafford Rd, Oakengates, Shropshire in 1901, working as a CoalHaulier.
Cause of death was 'Accidental drowning in the Shropshire Union Canal'.

Newspaper report of his autopsy below:

Wellington Journal 29th August 1908

Walked into the Canal
Sad drowning at Hadley

At Hadley on Tuesday, Mr. Coroner Lander inquired into the circumstancesattending the death of John Benjamin Finney. Emma Jane Latham (daughterof deceased) said her father was 65 years of age. He had been a coalmerchant and previous to that a brickmaker at Cherrington. He had been infairly good health but had complained about a month ago of feeling giddy.He had consulted Dr. Brown and the previous Friday week saw himpersonally. On Monday deceased got up as usual and told witness that hewas going for a little walk and should not be long away. There wasnothing unusual then to attract witness's attention. Her father wasafterwards brought home dead by the police. She had no reason to thinkthat her father would take his life. He had all his wants attended to andwas in no financial trouble. Witness was of the opinion that he hadwalked too far.

William Owen, lock-keeper employed by the Shropshire Union Canal Companyand residing at Wheat Leasow, stated how he discovered the body in thecanal. Life was extinct at this time. The canal at this particular pointwas about seven feet in width and perhaps a few inches more than fivefeet in depth. He found deceased standing in an upright position, the topof his hair out of the water and, curiously enough, quite dry. There wereno signs of a struggle and deceased was fully dressed with the exceptionof his cap which was quite close to him. He did not think deceased hadbeen under the water and it was pointed out by a lady who was passing atthe time that deceased's shoulder was dry. Witness examined deceased'shands which showed no sign of a struggle.

Dr. Brown also gave evidence and said there was nothing to lead him tobelieve that deceased's mind was unhinged. He had attended him for a weakheart and when witness last prescribed for him deceased was worse than hehad seen him before.
Deceased had lost the sight of one eye and the other was very weak.
Do. Calwell state that, at the request of the relatives, he had made apost-mortem examination of the body. There were no external marks ofviolence and the body was fairly well nourished. The heart was in afeeble condition and witness was of the opinion that deceased had diedfrom syncope. In cases of asphyxia witness would expect to find organsgorged in dark blood but the heart was practically empty which did notpoint to a death from drowning. The post-mortem examination showed nosighs of such a death and witness added that in the case of drowning thehands were generally clenched but this was not so in the presentinstance.
The jury returned a verdict of 'Accidental drowned'.

Marriage cert Jun 1868 Shiffnal 6a 1115

Marriage cert Dec 1893 Atcham 6a 1303