A METHOD OF MAKING COFFINS FOR THE EFFECTUAL PREVENTION OF BODIES BEING REMOVED OR TAKEN THEREFROM AFTER INTERMENT
Year: 1825

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BUTLER, of the Commercial Road, in the Parish of Lambeth, and County of
Surry, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twelfth day of August, in the sixth year of His reign, did,
for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Butler, His especial licence, that I, the said James Butler, my exors,
adiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Butler, my exors,
adiiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A METHOD OF
MAKING COFFINS FOR THE EFFECTUAL PREVENTION OF BODIES BEING REMOVED OR
TAKEN THEREFROM AFTER INTERMENT;" in which said Letters Patent there is
contained a proviso obliging me, the said James Butler, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in our High Court of Chancery
within two calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Butler, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawing hereunto annexed, and the following
description thereof (that is to say):-
The Invention consists in a new method of "so, effectually securing a
coffin that when the lid is fixed down by an original; screw it can never be
withdrawn or the body abstracted.
No. 1 are plates of iron fixed to the bottom of, the coffin inside; No. 2 are
holes tapped at each end of the cross plates to receive the screw; No. 3 is
the top or lid, the inside of which is plated with iron the same as the bottom;
No. 4 are holes at each end of the cross plates to admit of the screw; No. 5,
grooves made in the sides, and plated over with iron, through which pass
the screws into the bottom plates No. 2, thus, as will be seen, connecting, by
means of the screws, the top sides, ends, and bottom of the coffin. No. 6 is
the top of the lid, with plates of iron or other metal to receive the head of
the screws; No. 7 is the original screw, made of sufficient length to reach the
bottom plate No. 2, the head of which, instead of being cut across, as is usual,
to turn it in, is tapped to receive a small square piece of iron, which acts as
a lever to turn in the screw. On withdrawing the lever the screw remains
firmly fixed, the head bedded in the plates No. 6, which being case-hardened,
no notch can be cut in it to withdraw it, nor can any instrument act on it
by means of the guard plates No. 6. No. 8 is the lever by which the screw
No. 7 is turned in, which, by the retrogade motion of the stock, is withdrawn,
leaving the screw in the place intended.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Butler, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eleventh day of October, in
the year of our Lord 1825, the aforesaid James Butler came before our said
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One