Mental hospital / homes

[Wilbs]

Thomas Allman married Phoebe Foster in 1891 in Frodsham and later moved to Ellesmere Port.  They had 10 children that we can trace.  Nine of the names are remembered/recognised by current family members, but no one remembers Elizabeth born 1907.

However, there is talk of a possible eleventh child called Alice.  It seems that Alice was mentally handicapped and "sent away to a home".

There is a possibility that Elizabeth and Alice are the same person.  The family re-used the same names in every generation, so to identify individuals they often used middle names or nicknames.

If Alice had been "sent away" where would she have gone?  What homes were available in the 1890s - 1920s around the Cheshire area to take such children?  Is there a record available of the inmates?

A search of the 1911 census doesn't immediately identify Alice but it shows a Thomas Allman (Alice's father) as being at the St Martins Fields Infirmary Chester on census night.  Again. we don't know if he was a patient or visiting someone.

Thank you for any assistance.

Wilbs.

[willow154]

Hi Wilbs,
This is an index of asylums, but it may not be what you are looking for:
http://www.mdx.ac.uk/WWW/STUDY/4_13_Ta.htm#Cheshire%20and%20Lancashire
It might be worth doing a search on googlebooks to see if that brings anything up.
Good luck.
Paulene

[Wilbs]

Thank you Paulene

I found this site and it gives some very good information about the facilities themselves and details of the staff.  Unfortunately, probably something to do with "privacy", it doesn't give much information on the patients.

The site also commented that a number of Workhouses had mental facilities.  Our family was not rich by any means but seemed to have continuous employment so I'm assuming that they could afford to pay for Alice's care.  I've always understood that the Workhouses were for destitute persons, but please correct me if I'm in error.

I found a couple of hospitals on 1901 census but again, it only give the patients initials.

As a matter of interest, would a person's mental capacity be listed on a death certificate?  I have a death certificate for a great grandmother and the cause of death is listed as dementia.  To my understanding, dementia is not fatal, but rather a symptom of old age.  Would the doctors of the day classify Alice's mental retardation as a cause of death?  (Assuming, of course that I can find the currently ficticious Alice and find her death)

Thank you

Wilbs

[willow154]

Hi Wilbs,
Just passing this on to you while I look for the answers (still learning like you) to the other questions you raised - all interesting ones!
I found one of my ancestors who was classified on the census as imbecile from birth (at least I think that's what it says). On all the other census transcripts nothing is declared.
After her parent's death she is a boarder, living on own means with a family living in Dudley Port (area where she lived) and on the 1901 census she has a nurse living with her. (Hannah Robinson b. 1841 Tipton - parents George and Sarah). Her father was a miner, and Sarah's family were iron moulders/furnace managers.
You've now prompted me to find out a little more about Hannah, and order her death certificate, Wilbs.
Anyway, here is the site:
http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/deaths.htm#COL7
Back soon.
Paulene

[willow154]

Hi Wilbs,
Well I had a quick read of some of Simon Fowler's book 'Workhouse' and he says that workhouses did take "lunatics and simpletons" (words in book) and that some had specific parts for lunatic inmates.
He says:
"Almost every workhouse had a number of mentally ill and mentally disabled paupers amongst the inmates, who were, for the most part, harmless both to themselves and to their fellows."
It sounds as if they were allowed to stay, unless they became too violent, in which case they were admitted to the local county asylum. They were treated more or less the same as other inmates, and expected to work.
I haven't yet found out about whether they had to be paupers, but will be back when I have found some more information, Wilbs.
Bye for now,
Paulene
P.S. I did find details of the following book on amazon, which looks intersting - it also allows you to search the contents and some of the pages:
http://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Disability-Victorian-England-Earlswood/dp/0199246394
Plus, a free one on google books:
The Workhouse System, 1834-1929 By M. A. Crowther

[willow154]

Hi again,
Little bit in this book (googe books) re eligibility for workhouse admission and outdoor relief, with regard to New Poor Law. See pages 130 and 131.
Family Ties in Victorian England By Claudia Nelson
Still looking to see what alternatives were - obviously care from the family(if they could manage it), nursing at home (like my ancestor, Hannah), but I'm sure there probably were homes, but haven't managed to find anything specific yet, Wilbs.
Interesting topic!
Paulene

[willow154]

Hi Wilbs,
Well, after much searching about childrens homes, etc I found this list.
http://www.theirhistory.co.uk/70001/info.php?p=13
If you look at the year 1903 you will see that a new branch opened in Frodsham. What type of child they admitted I am not sure, but if you click on the links it says that records are available from 1869:
http://www.theirhistory.co.uk/70001/links.php
If she didn't go there, I can only suggest contacting the local studies library in the area, as they might know of any other homes which were in the area at that time.
As far as asylum and workhouse records are concerned - there is a 100 year confidentiality rule (that is why sensitive information is not shown yet on the 1911 census). However, I believe that if you write to ask permission, stating your family connection, then you can probably get access to look at these records. They are likely to be in the local archives office, and should come up on an National Archives search.
Just in case you haven't got this:
http://www.institutions.org.uk/workhouses/england/ches/cheshire_workhouses.htm
Details of asylum records will be on the asylums site you have already found.
Good luck - hope you find her. I'll be interested to know if you do!
Paulene

[Wilbs]

Paulene, you are a star.  You have given me so much information and reading material, that I almost don't know where to start.

I love that the Frodsham home is for "delicate and affected children" and not for "imbeciles" as some other publications call these much loved children.

A family member has also pointed me inthe direction of a local society here in Melbourne, Australia and I'm hoping htat they can also assist me in my quest.

Once again, thank you for all your help and I'll certainly be back in touch if I can find this elusive child.

Wilbs

[kathb]

Hi, Wilbs, the following may prove to be of some help.  Frodsham History Society email contact:
frodsham@cheshirehistory.org.uk
There was also a National Childrens Home - Newton Hall in Frodsham whether children with learning disabilities were also offered places here I am not sure, but the frodsham experts as above would probably be able to help. Googling Newton Hall Frodsham also brings up some information on this home.
I am also aware of two facilities for children with learning disability or as then labelled imbeciles or mentally subnormal - which took children from all over the North West.
Mary Dendy Hospital, Warford near Alderley Edge
and
Cranage Hall Hospital
The Cheshire Record and Archive Service of Cheshire County Council may be able to help.  Just google Cheshire County Council and you will find the email address.
Good Hunting
Kathb