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A Medieval Road Traffic Accident in Wyboston

Volume 41 produced by Bedfordshire Historical Records Society in 1961 is devoted to 13th and 14th century coroner's rolls for Bedfordshire from the National Archives, edited and translated by R. F. Hunnisett.

Entry 171 reads: "About midday on 22nd June [1274] John Madur of Wyboston rode on a mare from Eaton Socon mill with a sack containing two bushels of flour. As he rode in Wyboston on the highway between Eaton Socon and Wyboston [presumably the Great North Road] he fell from the mare, breaking his neck, and immediately died by misadventure. His wife Margaret first found him dead, raised the hue, to which the neighbours came, and found pledges, Walter Madur and Reynold Mariot of Wyboston. The mare was appraised at three shillings and the sack with the flour at eight pence; they were delivered to Wyboston".

R. F. Hunnisett notes that Margery went to the eyre and was not suspected of any foul play. The mare was appraised at three shillings and eight pence and adjudged deodand; Staploe was amerced for falsely appraising it before the coroner.