The following deaths were reported in the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday 4 December 1865 p. 2. The two deaths were children and the cause of death was drowning. "A magisterial inquiry was held yesterday (Thursday), at the residence of the deceased's parents, before Mr. James Ascough, on the body of a young lad, ten years old, son of Robert Smith, of Windsor, tanner, who, it appeared, had been accidentally drowned on Wednesday evening last, whilst bathing. The following evidence was adduced at the inquiry:- William Frederick Busby, a boy about nine years old, being duly sworn, deposed: Yesterday evening the deceased, Francis Smith, and myself were bathing in the South Creek, near Windsor. I saw the deceased sink almost immediately after he went into the water; he could not swim; he came up three times and then sank; after I had seen him sink the third time, I ran for assistance. John Moore deposed, in consequence of a report that a boy had been drowned in the South Creek, I hastened to the spot and saw a naked body lying in the weeds; I immediately undressed, went into the water and brought the body to the land; I recognised the bod! y as that of Francis Smith; he was quite dead when I brought him ashore. Dr. Day deposed that, he had visited the deceased just after he had been taken out of the water, and used the ordinary means to promote respiration, but without effect; he had no doubt that death resulted from asphyxia by drowning." The young boy was Francis Smith, and was the son of Robert Smith and Christiana Smith. The second drowning was of William Brett, the infant son of Thomas and Sarah. He is buried in an unmarked garve at Wilberforce. The article states: "We have just been informed of another case of drowning which occurred this morning, at Wilberforce. The unfortunate in this instance being an infant eighteen months old, son of Thomas and Sarah Brett, of Wilberforce. From the information received, it appears that the child, unperceived, had crawled or fallen into a duck-pond on the premises, only a few yards from the house. The'water was very thick and muddy, and, no doubt, quickly suffocated thechild, who was discovered by his mother, who had seen him only a few minutes previously playing in the yard. A coroner's inquiry will be held on the body."