• Born: 23 Feb 1825, Southampton, Hampshire, England ¹
• Christened: 2 Nov 1828, St. Mary's, Southampton, Hampshire, England ¹
• Married: 18 Sep 1844, Wootton Bassett St. Bartholomew All Saints, Wiltshire, England ²
• Died: 9 Oct 1867, Swindon, Wiltshire, England ⁴
• Buried: 15 Oct 1867, Christchurch with St. Mary, Swindon, Wiltshire, England ³

  Research Notes:

In 1851 Susannah Chandler, aged 26, born in Southampton and husband John Chandler, aged 32, born in Pewsey, master draper employing 4 men, were living in Wood St., Swindon. Present were children (born in Swindon): Lucy Jane (6), scholar, John H. (5), scholar, William P. (2), Susannah E. (10 months), and [John's mother] Ann Chandler (69) of Savernake Park, widow, annuitant.

In 1861 Susannah Chandler, aged 36, born in Devizes [sic] and husband John Chandler, aged 42, born in Pewsey, draper employing 16 apprentices, were living in Swindon. With them were children (born in Swindon): Katherine (8), scholar, Thomas H. (6), scholar, Arthur (4), scholar, Charles F. (2), Frank (1).

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SHOCKING ACCIDENT AT SWINDON STATION.—A sad and fatal occurred on Wednesday evening last at the Swindon Station of the G.W.R. Company, to Mrs. Susannah Chandler, wife of Mr. John Chandler, linen draper, of Swindon, and an ensign in the 16th Wilts Rifle Corps. Mrs. Chandler left home by an early morning train for the purpose of visiting some friends at Wootton Bassett. She returned by the 6 o'clock train the same day, and, after waiting on the platform some six or seven minutes, proceeded to leave the station. On arriving at the steps opposite the booking office, she was called to by a ticket collector, stationed at the wicket gate, to wait a minute until a milk van which was approaching the spot had passed. The unfortunate lady, however, either did not hear this warning, or not seeing the danger, at once attempted to cross in a diagonal direction, but before she had reached the other side, the buffers of the van knocked her down, the wheels passing over both her thighs. No time was lost conveying her into the cloak room by those present, and everything was done that could be under the circumstances, but she died in the course of a quarter of an hour, when her body was removed to the Queen's Hotel Tap to await an inquest. Mr. Chandler, for whom the greatest sympathy is felt by all who know him, was at the time of the unfortunate occurrence in London, and a telegram was immediately despatched to him there. Deceased has left a large family to mourn her loss. On Thursday morning an inquest was held on the body before Mr. Coroner Whitmarsh ; the Jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of "Accidental death," accompanying with it a recommendation "That the Jury are of the opinion that sufficient protection is not provided by the Great Western Railway Company for the safety of passengers entering or leaving the station." Mr. Holmer, who appeared for the company, said he should have much pleasure in forwarding the recommendation to the proper quarter. It was his wish that something should be done to remedy the present dangerous state of the crossing.

Wiltshire Independent, Thursday, 17 Oct 1867, p. 4

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Susannah Chandler of Swindon died aged 42 years (burial record).

Letters of Administration of the personal estate of Susannah Chandler (wife of John Chandler) late of Swindon in the County of Wilts, deceased, who died 9 October 1867 at Swindon aforesaid, were granted 9 January 1868 at Salisbury to the said John Chandler of Swindon aforesaid, draper, he having been first sworn. Effects under £20. ⁴