London

Depositions of Witnesses taken at London
that is to say, at the Parish of Allhallows the
Less in the Ward of Dowgate in London aforesaid
the 16th: day of August 1790 on view of the Body of
Richard Backhouse< no role > then and there lying
dead

Isaac Simpson< no role > an Apprentice to William Chaplin< no role > of No:
24 First Street Hill London Wireworker maketh Oath that
a little after the hour of six in the Morning of Yesterday the 15th.
instantly Dept. the deced and an Apprentice of Mr. Kirby's [..]
of Crooker Lane London Turner agreed to go into the River of
Thomes for the purpose of bathing that they went in together
at Cold. Harbour Stairs situate in the Parish of Allhallows
the Less in the Ward of Dewgate that the deced could swim
very little that they had not been long in the Water when the
deced having got out of his Depth appeared to be in danger
of drowning that Dept. observed him sinking under the Water
that he saw the deced sinking very fast nothing but in hand
appearing out of the Water that Dept. and Mrs [..] Kirby's
Apprentice used their utmost endeavour to save the deced but
without effect for the deced sunk quire under Water and Dept.
saw nothing more of him for near half an hour after when he was
taken up by some Waterman who grappled after him that
they Men who tooked the deced up brot. him on Shore to Cold
Harbour Stairs that a Surgeon was sent for that he cared his
endeavours to Chestore the deced to Life but without effect for
the deced never recoveredthat no person was near the deced
when he first sunk under the Water

Sworn the 16th: day of August 1790
before me}

T:Shelton Corr.

Isaac Simpson< no role >