Part of the Ingram-Green family tree (Great uncle)
James Ingram was the brother of Mildred Ingram, and was tragically killed in a shooting accident when he was 21 years old.
Family background and early life
James Ingram was born at Dunsprings Farm in Barkingside, Essex on 29 March 1881. He was the second of eight children, and the eldest son, born to James Ingram (1858–1924) and his wife, Annie née Bosworth. He was baptised on 3 April 1881 at Holy Trinity Church, Barkingside.
At the census taken on 3 April 1881, one-week old James was living at Dunsprings with his parents and sister, 17-month old Annie, plus a nurse and domestic servant. He was recorded on the census as a daughter, with the name Bertie.
At the next two ten-yearly censuses, James (affectionately known as “Sonnie”) was recorded as living with his parents and siblings at Hedgeman’s Farm; in March 1901, aged 20, his occupation was recorded as “farmer’s son”.
Death
On 23 February 1903, shortly before his 22nd birthday, he was killed by a gunshot through the heart.
Speaking in 1972, his sister Mildred (who was 15 when James was killed) recollected the events of the day:
In February 1903, James joined a shooting party from the farm. Already mounted, he asked one of the farm lads to pass him up his gun. It was offered to him barrel first, and as he took the gun the trigger caught on something, and he was shot through the heart.
The Chelmsford Chronicle of 28 February 1903 reported the accident slightly differently:
A shocking fatality occurred at Barkingside on Monday afternoon.
James Ingram, a young man, was with his brother Ernest in a field cutting cabbages for the London market. They had a gun with them to scare rooks from peas set in an adjoining field. When they had finished work James got into a cart in which they were going to drive home. He asked a young labourer to hand the gun to him, and this was done, the weapon being laid upon some sacks. Apparently thinking the gun might slip, James took hold of the barrel to pull it into a more secure position. While he was doing this the gun went off. The charge entered his heart, and he died instantly.
At the inquest on 25 February, the coroner heard that the gunshot had entered the heart and that death was instantaneous. The jury reported a verdict of Accidental Death and passed a vote of sympathy with the bereaved family.
James was a member of the Ilford Volunteers, and was captain of the football team of the corps. His funeral was held the day after the inquest at Holy Trinity Church, and was attended by the Ilford Volunteers and many local residents.
Sources
Ancestry.co.uk:
1881 England Census
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
Essex, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1918
Essex, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1994
Chelmsford Chronicle:
27 February 1903. Shot Through the Heart at Barkingside
Essex Weekly News:
27 February 1903. Ilford Volunteer Shot Dead
St James Gazette
24 February 1903. A Farmer’s Son Accidentally Shot