William Dawe, aged 36, died after an accident on 3 November 1850 near Willunga where the horse and cart that he was driving hit a stump and overturned. He was attended by Dr McDonald, assisted by Dr Schmidt, but he never regained consciousness. There was an inquest before R. Bosworth Esq and the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death”.
The inquest was reported as follows:
FATAL ACCIDENT. — STUMPS ON A MAIN ROAD —
On Monday night last Mr William Dawe, of Willunga, had been at the township on business, but not returning as expected, his wife became alarmed and went to look for him. About midway between her residence and the township, she found him lying on the road under his cart, which had been overturned by a stump with which it had come into contact. The horse was also lying down quietly, having apparently made no effort to disengage itself. Mr Dawe was quite insensible when discovered in that situation; his wife procured assistance and had him conveyed home, where he was attended by Dr Macdonald, assisted by Dr Schmidt, but without avail, as he never recovered consciousness, and expired about 11 o’clock on Tuesday morning. There was an inquest on the body before R. Bosworth. Esq. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.” The deceased was 35 years of age, and, besides his wife, leaves six young children to lament his loss.
He was buried at the Church of England Cemetery in Willunga and he left a wife and six children.
