1815 Info 8 for Richardson Crompton
The death of Caleb Crompton, born 1851

The sad story of Richardson and Hannah's children continues with the report of the death of their fourth child Caleb, in the town of Orange, New South Wales, at the age of 63.

The newspaper reports, in the Orange Leader, of his death would suggest that Caleb was a solitary man, a bachelor rather than a widower. It was 'servants of the household' who searched for him, rather than family; no one could really confirm his age or place of birth.

Death Date:    8 March 1915 Death Place:  Warrendine Estate,                       Orange, New South Wales, Australia Burial Date:   11 March 1915 Burial Place: Orange Cemetery, NSW Occupation:  Groom Religion:       Church of England?

The circumstances of Caleb's death were reported in the 'Orange Leader' of Wednesday 10 March:

TRAGIC DEATH
OLD MAN FOUND DEAD IN QUARRY
MYSTERIOUS DEATH ON COMMON

When the servants of the household of the Great Western Hotel made ready for duty early yesterday morning they were surprised to find that the groom, Caleb Crompton, had not done his customary work. The man could not be found anywhere on the premises, and when this fact was realised a search was instituted. At half past 3 o‘clock in the afternoon the man was found lying in a culvert at the quarry on the common by Messrs Cecil Jones and Will Considine. There are some unexplained circumstances in the case. Crompton was at the hotel till about 8 o‘clock on the previous night. It is stated that he was afterwards seen going away from the premises in company with two other men. When found at the quarry the right side of his head was resting on a stone. There was a wound in the head, and the stone was bloodstained. The man had his boots off. It is expected that the police will have secured sufficient evidence to explain the case at the Court House this morning when an inquest will be held by Mr. Gates P.M.

1815info8, sheet 2

The body now lies at the morgue. Crompton, who was about 70, was a good natured, honest man and for all the years he had been in Orange his friends were many, and enemies few - if he had any at all. He was for many years a trusted employee of Mr. Frank Quinn, at the old Greyhound Hotel in Summer street and afterwards at the Great Western Hotel where his services were maintained by Mr. Sloane ...

'The Leader' had a burial notice for Caleb on Thursday 11 March 1915:

'The burial will take place in the C/E Cemetery today of the late Caleb Crompton.

A further account of the incident appeared in the 'Leader' on Saturday 13 March 1915:

AN OLD MAN‘S DEATH
BODY FOUND IN A QUARRY

Acting in his capacity as Coroner, Mr. Gates P.M. yesterday conducted an inquiry into the cause of the death of Caleb Crompton whose body was found in a quarry on Warrendine estate on Tuesday evening. The proceedings were conducted by Constable Perkins who deposed that at 7 pm on the 9th instant that he went with Constable Walsh? and a man named Cecil Jones to a paddock situated on Warrendine estate, about half a mile south of the town. About 100 yards from the boundary fence he came across the body of Crompton. It was five or six yards from a large quarry, amongst some briar bushes. Deceased was dressed except for boots and hat, which were near the body. There was a gaping wound on the forehead evidently caused through a fall on to a stone (produced). Blood had flown freely from the wound. Death must have occurred some hours before the body was found. There were no marks of a struggle about. The only property found on deceased was a key, knife, and a penny. Crompton had been a resident of Orange for a number of years, and was employed as a hotel groom. He was very quiet in his ways, and slightly addicted to drink.

Thomas Sloane, licensee of the Great Western Hotel, deposed that deceased had been in his employ for the last 10 months, as a groom. His age was 64 years, but witness could not say where he was born. He had no property of any description. Witness last saw him alive at about 6.45 on Monday night. He spoke to him about his having had a few drinks during the day, and when asked then as to how he was he said he was alright. Deceased was not drunk, but was so far under the influence of liquor that witness refused to let him have any more during the day. Whenever he got a few shillings he spent them in drink. There was about 6 pound 10 shillings coming to him in wages.

Dr C. B. Howse deposed that he made a postmortem examination of the body of deceased on Wednesday afternoon. There were a number of scratches and bruises over the arms and legs and chest, and a cut on the forehead, besides a deep dent in the skull, at the side of the cut. The edge of the stone already produced fitted into the dent, and there was blood on the stone as well. He thought death was caused by haemorrhage and a fractured skull.

John Kallmer, employed by Mr. E.T. McNeilly, deposed that he saw deceased going in the direction of the quarry on Warrendine on Monday evening. Crompton appeared to be under the influence of liquor. Later on witness saw him in the quarry reserve, sitting down and holding his head in his hands. There was no other person about at the time. The fence through which deceased had gone had barbed wire in it, and there were a lot of briars about.

Cecil Jones, engine driver, deposed that on Tuesday he, in company with other, found the body of Crompton. They were out looking for him. Deceased was lying on the left shoulder, and his forehead was resting on a stone. There were no signs of a struggle about.

The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, caused through falling on a stone.

Like his brother Stephen Clubley, Caleb appears to have died without property or possessions apart from his key, his knife, the penny in his pocket and the 6 pounds 10 shillings owing him in wages. Like his uncle and name sake this Caleb appears to have died in a drink related incident.

Research by © Yvonne Frazer...

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This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass	Version A3 Updated 23 August 2003