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Author Topic: A Lunatic  (Read 2312 times)

Offline Laverdiere

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A Lunatic
« on: Wednesday 29 August 07 13:17 BST (UK) »
I'm not sure where to post this request.  I have a 6th great-gran, Sarah Wenham, in 1871 England census for Lenham, Kent and am not sure if the notation on the far write stands for lunatic or not.

Can someone please check and verify?  Thank you! Laverdiere

Offline MaryA

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Re: A Lunatic
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 29 August 07 13:21 BST (UK) »
I'm afraid the mark probably does mean that, poor lady at 89 she may not have all of her faculties.
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from The National Archives <br />Lunt (Wavertree/West Derby), Forshaw (West Derby), Richardson (Knowsley), Kent (Cheshire), <br />Cain (Hertfordshire, London), Larkins (Bedfordshire, London), Nunn (London), Lenton, Hillyard (Bedfordshire), <br />Parle, Lambert, Furlong, Wafer (Wexford)<br />Special separate interest in Longford (Blackrock, Dublin)

Offline Laverdiere

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Re: A Lunatic
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 29 August 07 13:24 BST (UK) »
Thanks MaryA, I guess that's why it says she died of "natural decay" rather then "old age" on her death cert.

Offline Emjaybee

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Re: A Lunatic
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 29 August 07 13:26 BST (UK) »
Looks like an "L" to me too.
Beard Voyce, Scrivens in Worcestershire

Offline Ruskie

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Re: A Lunatic
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 29 August 07 13:28 BST (UK) »
It looks like an L doesn't it? But with a little squiggly tail. Poor Sarah, she may have had dementia or some thing similar. They weren't too PC in those days.

Offline behindthefrogs

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Re: A Lunatic
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 29 August 07 22:41 BST (UK) »
If you look at the old medical dictionaries you will find that in those days the term lunatic included amongst many other things senile decay.

David
Living in Berkshire from Northampton & Milton Keynes
DETAILS OF MY NAMES ARE IN SURNAME INTERESTS, LINK AT FOOT OF PAGE
Wilson, Higgs, Buswell, PARCELL, Matthews, TAMKIN, Seckington, Pates, Coupland, Webb, Arthur, MAYNARD, Caves, Norman, Winch, Culverhouse, Drakeley.
Johnson, Routledge, SHIRT, SAICH, Mills, SAUNDERS, EDLIN, Perry, Vickers, Pakeman, Griffiths, Marston, Turner, Child, Sheen, Gray, Woolhouse, Stevens, Batchelor
Census Info is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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