Ann Bragge, Convict "Mary Ann" 1822

22 March 1850, SMH

Village of Ryde.-An inquest was held at Mr. Dowdell's, Steam Boat Inn, on view of the body of Ann Bragg, wife of William Bragg, district constable of Kissing Point. The husband of the deceased being sworn, stated my late wife was forty-seven years of age, she has been ill six years , Doctors Hill, Gwynne, Robertson, and Rutter, have seen her, Dr Cartwright examined her, and told me to listen at the chest and I would be convinced of her having water on the chest; Dr. Douglass has lately seen her; deceased was in Sydney last week, and came home on Saturday night, and was not worse than usual, she attended divine service on Sunday, and a prayer meeting on Monday ; was as well as usual at family prayer on Monday night ; she retired to read at nine o'clock ; I went to bed at ten o'clock, we conversed about family matters, and upon the sacred scriptures, till two o'clock, I awoke at six o'clock, and saw her out of bed with our grandchild in her arms ; she came into bed again ; I said, " it rains ," she replied "yes, it has thundered and lightened very much," I said, " I will set the tubs to catch the water;" she replied " yes ;" I was in the act of putting on my socks, when I heard her make a noise of hoarseness in the throat ; I said " what is the matter? '" she did not answer; I put my hand on her foot, but she did not move it, as the place was not very light, I lit a candle, and saw she was dead ; I was formerly employed as Dispenser in the Parramatta Hospital, and have seen many sudden deaths from similar causes ; I was of opinion she would die sud- denly, and have therefore put written direc- tions in my children's pockets when they have gone to Sydney with her, lest she should die and not be known. Dr. Rutter deposed: I have known the deceased many years, and attended her professionally some years ago; she was labouring under disease of the heart; I have since been in company with five or six other medical practitioners who have attended deceased, and who perfectly concurred with me in reference to the disease ; the water on the chest is merely a symptom of disease of the heart ; sudden death is the usual termination of this disease, and what might have been expected in this instance. The Jury returned a verdict accordingly.