Thurston
Selected Biography
Thurston, Frederick – Born: Fressingfield, Suffolk in 1844. Parents: James Thurston (Veterinary Surgeon) and Charlotte [née Burroughs]. Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1871 to 1891), 13 Queen Street, Ipswich, Suffolk (1901). Occupation: Chemist, Druggist and Wine Merchant (1871 to 1901). Married: Mary Ann Green in 1868. Newspaper Record: Frederick Thurston as the village druggist was called as a witness at a Coroner’s Inquest in the case of apparent suicide by a local farmer William Jennings Mills. Thurston had supplied the victim with quantities of strychnine over a number of years, the farmer purchasing the drug for the sole purpose of pest control. Within the farming community the strychnine when mixed with lard and sugar acted as an effective rat killer. Mills who it transpired had a history of depression, dissolved six grains of strychnine in water and poisoned himself. The verdict of the coroner’s jury was that the deceased committed suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity.[1] Died: Ipswich, Suffolk in 1908.
Notes – [1] ‘Sad Suicide of Mr Wm. Mills at Long Melford’ Suffolk and Essex Free Press 1.9.1886.

Genealogical Table
