Antedating of "goner" (1836)

[Bonnie Taylor-Blake]

I see that OED2 shares as an early sighting the use of "goner" in an 1850
issue of the New York *Sunday Mercury*.  Here are at least a few earlier
from other American periodicals.

-- Bonnie

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(From James Mease's "Death from the Stings of Bees and Other Insects," *The
American Journal of the Medical Sciences*, November 1836; 19, 37; APS
Online, Pg. 265.)

[Dr. Mease, relying on the observations of the attending physician,
describes the case of a Mr. White, a 35-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky,
stung by a bee in June, 1836.]

After standing about a minute, he complained of a universal prickling over
the whole surface of the body, as well as internally, and laying down on the
porch, expressed his belief of a speedy death by a cant local phrase, "I am
a goner."

[And he was. -- Bonnie]

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(From "A Deer Hunt in Louisiana," *Spirit of the Times; A Chronicle of the
Turf, Agriculture, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage* [New York], 9
February 1839; 8, 52; APS Online, Pg. 411.)

The old buck begins to think he is a "goner;" he throws his head from side
to side to see his chances -- he is almost ready to bleat with fear, -- he
is legged -- he is throttled -- down he goes.

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(From "Buffalo Hunting in Missouri," *Spirit of the Times; A Chronicle of
the Turf, Agriculture, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage* [New York],
30 September 1843; 13, 31; APS Online Pg. 365.]

"Run for it," kried [sic] Harris, "or you're a goner."

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