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Author Topic: imbecile & feeble-minded  (Read 11616 times)

Offline echo

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imbecile & feeble-minded
« on: Friday 21 May 04 13:26 BST (UK) »
Does anyone have further explanations on column 17 on the census returns?  1) Deaf and dumb 2) Blind 3) Lunatic 4) imbecile and feeble-minded.  
I have several people who are 'normal' in 1891, but by 1901 are ticked as belonging to one of the above categories.

Just wondered if anyone could shed light on what the categories really meant - how could someone be employed if they were regarded as  Lunatic, for example?  

 :-\ Echo
Buckley,Clayton, Irvin, Mcdonald, Walton

Ireland, Yorkshire, Liverpool

Offline Boongie Pam

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Re:imbecile & feeble-minded
« Reply #1 on: Friday 21 May 04 14:48 BST (UK) »
Are you sure they are ticked as being one of the 4? I got a 1901 census image yesterday where the family are all their but the wife has a tick in that column.  Curious, I thought ???

But then I noticed that all the people on the page (another 6) had the same little tick - and they were all born in Ireland.  So my conclusion is that it is an enumerators tick back to count up all the none English residents.

Just a thought?

Pam
 ;D
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
~~~~~~~~~~~

Dumfrieshire: Fallen, Fallon, Carruthers, Scott, Farish, Aitchison, Green, Ryecroft, Thomson, Stewart
Midlothian: Linn/d, Aitken, Martin
North Wales: Robins(on), Hughes, Parry, Jones
Cumberland: Lowther, Young, Steward, Miller
Somerset: Palmer, Cork, Greedy, Clothier

Online intermittently!

Offline peterbennett

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Re:imbecile & feeble-minded
« Reply #2 on: Friday 21 May 04 15:52 BST (UK) »
Hi Echo

         Pam is right some of the enumerators not only tick the non English but also persons not born in the county as well.

from an expert on feeble mindedness

peterbennett
All census look up transcriptions are Crown Copyright<br />www.NationalArchives.gov.uk <br />Cheshire BMD  www.cheshirebmd.org.uk/ <br />Cheshire Wills database http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/recordoffice/wills/Search.htm<br />Cheshire family history society  www.fhsc.org.uk/<br />Cheshire Records Office http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/Recordoffice/aboutus/recoffcontact.tm<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Bennett/,Whaley,Chesh/Lancs, Brindley Staffs

Offline echo

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Re:imbecile & feeble-minded
« Reply #3 on: Friday 21 May 04 16:00 BST (UK) »
Phew what a relief!  Thanks guys!  I was just coming to terms with the fact I might br descended from a buch of half-wits!
Makes sense as most of them are irish/scottish.

Echo
Buckley,Clayton, Irvin, Mcdonald, Walton

Ireland, Yorkshire, Liverpool

Offline sylvia

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Re:imbecile & feeble-minded
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 22 May 04 04:24 BST (UK) »
Sad but true the elderly whe were going senile were also classed as lunatics, imbeciles,and feeble minded.And dumped into lunatic asylum's .Dont suppose they lasted very long in those places either.You wouldn't have looked forward to old age very much would you?If you were lucky enough to each old age.  :'(
                                                        Sylvia
Delaney and cooks of  and Bilston,staffordshire.
Cook.Cartwright.of Sedgley .
Edwards,Evans,Lawley of Kidderminster and W,Ton
Jeavons.Herobin.Wolverhampton,Staffordshire.
Churchills,Pearsall,Evans.Johnsons,
 of Dudley Worcestershire.and Staffs.

Offline echo

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Re:imbecile & feeble-minded
« Reply #5 on: Monday 24 May 04 09:43 BST (UK) »
I agree Sylvia but can't help wondering if things have improved much today!
Buckley,Clayton, Irvin, Mcdonald, Walton

Ireland, Yorkshire, Liverpool

Offline GreySquirrel

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Definitions of imbecile & feeble-minded
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 02 June 04 13:07 BST (UK) »
Lunatic = a mentally ill person with periods of lucidity.

Imbecile = persons who have fallen in later life into a state of chronic dementia.

Idiot = persons who suffer from congenital mental deficiency.

Offline Boongie Pam

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Re:Definitions of imbecile & feeble-minded
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 02 June 04 13:15 BST (UK) »
Quote from: GreySquirrel on Wednesday 02 June 04 13:07 BST (UK)
Lunatic = a mentally ill person with periods of lucidity.

Imbecile = persons who have fallen in later life into a state of chronic dementia.

Idiot = persons who suffer from congenital mental deficiency.


Hey, now I know what to put on my CV!

Ta.
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
~~~~~~~~~~~

Dumfrieshire: Fallen, Fallon, Carruthers, Scott, Farish, Aitchison, Green, Ryecroft, Thomson, Stewart
Midlothian: Linn/d, Aitken, Martin
North Wales: Robins(on), Hughes, Parry, Jones
Cumberland: Lowther, Young, Steward, Miller
Somerset: Palmer, Cork, Greedy, Clothier

Online intermittently!

Offline GreySquirrel

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Re:imbecile & feeble-minded
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 02 June 04 17:28 BST (UK) »
The Mental Deficiency Act 1913 later defined four "classes" of deficiency:

Idiot = unable to protect themselves from common dangers.

Imbecile = could protect themselves from common dangers, but unable to take care of themselves.

Feeble-Minded = required care to protect themselves.

Moral Defectives = criminal or vicious personalities.

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