A Boy Dragged To Death

He Was Leading a Cow With a Rope Around His Waist

James Potter, aged twelve years, who lived with William Kennedy of Englishtown, met a tragic death on Tuesday of last week. He was leading a cow out to water and he tied the end of the halter in a slip knot around this waist. The cow began to run and Potter missed his footing and fell. He was dragged about 200 yards over the frozen ground. He was cut and bruised about the face and body and the rope became so tight that it cut into his waist until the bowels protruded. He was unconscious when picked up and he lived only a short time.

The boy was a son of Mrs. Frank Mery of Freehold, but he had lived with William Kennedy since the death of his father a number of years ago.

Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, Jan 1, 1902

Some additional excellent resources for your research are:

• New Jersey Census, 1772-1890 - Ancestry.com

• Calendar of New Jersey Wills, 1670-1760 - Ancestry.com

• Interment.net - NJ ~ New Jersey Cemetery Transcriptions on the net.

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