Hello
I don't know if anyone can help me but is there anyway to find more details on this entry in Kendal
The Westmorland Gazette and Kendal Advertiser
Saturday, February 8, 1849
SUICIDE IN THE LANCASTER ASYLUM.
On Monday morning last, one of the inmates of the Lunatic Asylum
committed suicide by hanging. An inquest was held the same day
before J. Gardner, Esq., the coroner, when the following facts
were brought out. The deceased was one James Forshaw, a
blacksmith, a native of Liverpool, and had been since the time he
was admitted in a very desponding state, inasmuch as a stricter
watch was kept over him than is generally the case with
others. About eight o'clock in the morning of Monday, the keeper
took him his breakfast into the room where he was then in bed. He
left it with him and went to see some others, he was not absent
more than six minutes, and at his return deceased had left the
room. After a search he was found in the dormitory, a room about
twelve yards from the other, the door of which had to be forced
open, being fastened on the inside and the bedsteads drawn against
it. He was found hanging in one corner suspended by a bit of
sheeting, and was still warm. The surgeon was immediately on the
spot, but all efforts for his restoration were unavailing, as the
vital spark was extinct. The jury returned a verdict of hung
himself, being lunatic.
Can anyone advise as to how I can find how old James Forshaw was whether he was single or married any information really. Do you know whether this information would be available on a death certificate of the time 1849?
Any help you can give will be gratefully received.
Eileen
