Colney Hatch asylum and the 1871 census

[jonw65]

It's a national register of admissions to asylums. If they stayed in the asylum, and died there, the date of death is given. Making it very useful.

Yes, the Colney/Friern records are at the LMA. I've looked in them there (one patient and one attendant)
However, there are often surviving records at the Board of Guardians end, i.e. reception orders.
For example (completely random)
Louisa Marten
admitted Liverpool Road Workhouse (as Martin), 2 June 1863
Age 24, Single, "Lunacy"
Discharged 8 June, order of Magistrate, to Colney Hatch Asylum

Is in the Lunacy Patients Admission Registers, 1846-1912
Louisa Marten, admitted Colney H, 8 June 1863, "discharged" 6 Sep 1873 (died)

London, England, Poor Law and Board of Guardian Records, 1430-1930
(ironically, Islington did not at this time have a "Board of Guardians", like some other places it had been exempted from some of the provisions of the 1834 Act)
Islington / Register of Lunatics / Orders for reception and conveyance of pauper lunatics, 1863
Images 452-455 (of 681)
4th June 1863
Examined by Arthur Ballantine Esquire a Justice of the Peace
Louisa Marten, a Pauper Lunatic
Female, 24, Single
Domestic Servant, Church of England
of 2 Gerrard Street
First attack, duration about a fortnight, cause not known
Is suicidal, not dangerous to others
Chargeable to St Mary Islington
No known relatives

Samuel Richard ?, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons,examined Louisa Marten, 4 June
"Is very melancholy and desponding Feels her head is not right says her case(?) is going wrong that she is not answerable for her actions - They have exploded her friends and that has broken her heart
says she has attempted to drown herself twice is very sorry for it + fears she shall not be forgiven - Cannot council her thoughts"

"I hearby certify that I delivered the within named Lunatic with a duplicate of this Order at the Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum at 1 p.m. this 8th June 1863"
(signed) George Moss

Certainly worth looking into
John

[dawnsh]

If she died at Colney Hatch, her death would be registered in Barnet district.

A relative of mine died there in 1864, having been admitted shortly after it opened in 1851.

Yes, there were problems identifying her in the 1861 census, due to the initials and the age being slightly out, but I managed to see her file at the LMA: admission register, death register and her sparse medical record. While she wasn't mis-treated, her mental condition wasn't and she succombed to TB.

Quite harrowing to read, but you have to remember it was a sign of the times.

[Retriever]

Many thanks for the posts John and Dawn.

I have her on the 1861 census with her family but then she vanishes. Not being able to pinpoint a likely death led me to the workhouse admission/discharge records on Ancestry where I found her in 1863.

Thanks to Louisa Maud I think I have her on the 1871 census at Colney Hatch.

Another sad tale. Her eldest child, a son, is stated to be "an imbecile from birth", she enters Colney Hatch in 1863, her father in law (who lived with them) died spring 1878 and then her second son drowned in the Princess Alice disaster in the autumn of 1878.

Her poor husband. I have him and the two daughters on the 1881 census then they too vanish. More puzzles.

Off now for more digging!

[louisa maud]

If you need any help as to where to find them on 1881 census you know where to come for help, hopefully

Louisa Maud

[Retriever]

Thank you Louisa Maud but I think I've found her, at least I've found a set of initials and entries that fit.

I thought I had the answer to my searching thanks to jonw65, a full name and death date. I was thrilled to bits but the poor lady turned out to be too young for mine.

The trouble is this is the only entry for Barnet. There is an earlier one in Pancras 1872 which is only two years out with the birth year.

Think I'll leave this for now and try to sort someone else out in the hope of clearing my mind.

Regards

[jonw65]

If you gave us a name I'm sure we would all be happy to have a look for her
John

[Retriever]

That is very kind of you John. Her name was Sarah Ann Howlett, born 1825.

I know the 1863 admission to the workhouse is correct because her address is given and then she was sent to Colney Hatch on the orders of the magistrate.

On the 1871 census her two daughters are boarding with people I've never heard of in Sussex, and her husband, son and father in law are in Thundersley, Essex. In 1881 her husband and daughters are in Bromley by Bow.

Many thanks

[jonw65]

Hi
It says admitted Colney Hatch, 9 May 1863
The discharge date is not because of death though, it looks like it could be a transfer. 24 Oct 74
So, looking for a subsequent entry for her,
Sarah A Howlett, admitted 24 Oct 1874, Essex. Discharged 6 June 79. There's a mark in the third column (under discharged) this time. Essex will probably be Warley Asylum/Hospital
Then she's transferred back to Colney Hatch!
Sarah A Howlett, admitted 6 June 1879. Discharged 4 Feb 95. This time it is a death.
John

[Retriever]

I never thought to check anything other than Colney, so thanks for that.

The death in 1895 is for the lady born 1841 which makes her too young.