Duplin County, NC - Court Records Source: Secretary of State, General Assembly, Committee of Claims, Coroner's Inquest, S.S. 316. Coroners Inquest to Death of John REGISTER - 1763 Inquisition indented taken at the House of Thomas HAWS in the County aforesaid the 13th day of Nov'r in the Year of our Lord 1763 before me Edward BIRD Gen't one of the Coroners of the County upon View of the body of John REGISTER Late of the County Planter then and there Lying dead, and upon the Oaths of David WILLIAMS, Absolam MERRIT, Bird LANIER, John GANEY, Valentine HOLLINGSWORTH, Benjamin LANIER, Clifton BOWEN Sen'r, Thos MILLS, Charles MERRIT, William STEVENS, Samuell SELLERS, John GOFF, Thomas HALL, Clifton BOWEN Jun'r Good and Lawfull Men of the Parish of St. Gabriel in the Said County who being charged and Sworn to Enquire how and in what manner the Said John REGISTER by his Death came upon their Oaths do say That on the 12th day of the Month being agoing a Bear hunting and having a Loaded Gun in his hand the said Gun discharged of itself and Shot him so he Languished and Dyed and do find it to be an Accident and no intended thing In Testimony whereof as well I the said Coroner as the Jurors aforesaid to this Inquisition have Severally put our Seals the day, Year, and Place first above mentioned. Edw'd BIRD, Coroner David (his "x" mark) WILLIAMS Bird LANIER Valentine HOLLINGSWORTH Clifton BOWEN, Sen'r. Tho's MILLS Robert (his "R" mark) MERRET John GOFF Benj'm LANIER Absolam (his "A" mark) MERRIT John (his "x" mark) GANY Tho. HALL Clifton BOWEN, Jun'r Charles (his "M" mark) MERRIT William STEVENS Samuell (his "x" mark) SELLER _______________________________________________________________________