Murder Stones
Murder Stones Wilful Murder against a Person or Persons Unknown , these were the returned verdicts of two inquests regarding two murders. Inquests unlike today, where they are heard at a Coronor’s Office, were heard at the local Public House, close to the murder. What is a Murder Stone? They are an historic marker usually a stone, which has an engraved inscription. They are to be found in England, Scotland and a handful in Wales. Since the publication of last April’s bay Family History article, Sweet F.A. , which featured a murder stone located at St Catwg’s church, in Cadoxton, Neath, I have visited St Michaels and All Angels church, in Thursley, Surrey where there is a Grade I listed murder stone, which commemorates the murder of an unknown sailor. In September 1786, an anonymous sailor who was returning from London to join his ship docked in Portsmouth, had stopped off at the Red Lion pub in Thursley. It was here that he bought a round of drinks for three other men. The sailor,