A History of Plymouth's Coroners

Appointments to the post of Coroner for Plymouth

• Petition of Plymouth men concerning coroner, 14th century.
• Charter of 1440 gave the Borough of Plymouth powers to elect inter alia a coroner.
• George Baron is mentioned in document 591/2. He was Mayor of Plymouth in 1599 and was buried St Andrew's Church, Plymouth on 12 June 1600.
• John Buckham, circa 1663 to 1666.
• Thomas Payne, mentioned 1668 to 1697, appointed by second charter of Charles II, 1684.
• Andrew Phillips, from around 1699 until he resigned on 22 September 1712.
• Matthew Roe of Plymouth, gentleman, appointed 22 September 1712, mentioned 1724.
• Tristram Doidge, gentleman, appointed 19 September 1726, and served until 1752.
• Lampen Harris, gentleman, appointed 19 February 1752, mentioned 13 March 1764. Died before 21 October 1765.
• John Fry, appointed 31 March 1764. Died before 14 April 1765.
• George Woodward Mallett, gentleman, appointed 2 May 1765, died 1788.
• Richard Rosdew, appointed 30 March 1791, resigned 24 September 1791, re-elected 2 November 1791 and resigned 1792/3.
• George Eastlake (he was frequently absent and a number of ad hoc appointments were made, including Henry Woollcombe). Appointed 26 September 1795, mentioned 1815.
• Richard Jago Squire (Plymouth) 1827-1838 (see document 1609/676), appointed 29 September 1821, renewed 10 May 1836.
• John Edmonds (Plymouth), mentioned 1848, resigned 12 February 1868.
• Thomas Cadwallader Brian, appointed 21 February 1868 and served until 1889.
• A S Clark, 1889 to 1892.
• Richard B Johns 1892 to 1914. Based in Princess Square, Plymouth.

Appointments to the post of Coroner for Devonport

• Alan Belfield Bone, was appointed by the newly incorporated Borough of Devonport in 1837 and served until his resignation on 15 December 1875.
• James Vaughan, appointed 23 December 1875. Based at 27 St Aubyn Street, Devonport.
• James A Pearse, 1895 to 1914

Appointments to the post of Coroner for Stoke Damerel District

• Richard Robinson Rodd served from circa 1880 to 1914. Based at 87 Durnford Street, East Stonehouse.
• C. George Brian served as Deputy Coroner from circa 1901 to 1914.

There was no Coroner in East Stonehouse from 1914.
The post was later revived under Devon County Council and the following gentlemen were appointed.

• Arthur Kenneth Griffith Johnstone from circa 1935 to circa 1950. Based in Tavistock.
• Ernest Howard served as Deputy Coroner from circa 1935 to circa 1950. Based in Plympton.
• G. G. Pearce from circa 1951. Based in Tavistock.
• J. Baker served as Deputy Coroner from 1951. Also based in Tavistock.

Appointments to the post of Coroner for Plymouth Corporation later Plymouth and South West Devon

• Richard B Johns (Plymouth Area Coroner), 1914 to 1927
• James A Pearse (Devonport Area Coroner), 1914 to to 1927, then Coroner from 1927 to at least 1933. He then served as Deputy Coroner until circa 1937.
• William E J Major, Deputy Coroner from circa 1928 to circa 1935, then Coroner until at least 1955. Based at 8 Queen Anne Terrace, Plymouth.
• David Bishop
• Nigel Meadows, 1999 to 2006.
• Ian Arrow, 2007 to present.

To find out more about the work of the present day Coroner, see the the Coroner page.

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