What happened to Michael KENNEDY???

[cupoflife]

Thanks Neil, you certainly have a very logical approach which is a great asset; your very clear analysis makes perfect sense and has cleared up many issues.

You sure brought family history to life with your most entertaining firsthand experience… thoroughly enjoyed reading your ancestral story and glad there was a happy ending 

[cupoflife]

Update to everyone helping 

Applied for and received permission from the Department of Health to access records for Michael Kennedy who died 30/1/1943 at the Lidcombe State Hospital and Home.

Patient Admission Card and brief medical record were all that remained. He was admitted twice (1937-1938) and (1940-1943 where he died)

Admission Card matched on several points: Parents names, Birthplace, Religion, Age, Occupation, and length of time in NSW, also noted was “Wife deceased”; wife and children were not named.

The Card also stated: Last Address “ex Macleay River Hospital (late Christmas Creek Kempsey)”
* Can Rootschatters track him in this district?

Of several persons listed on the Card (all from Sydney) this name in particular may hold a connection “Mr McCabe 14 Smith St, Parramatta with a date 17/1/43”
* Can Rootschatters see other names at this address?

Looking forward to your valuable feedback. Thanks so much for all your help.

cheers
cupoflife

[Jennaya]

Hi Cupoflife

Somewhere I have heard that hospitals like Lidcombe were for old, frail and/or ill people who had no one to care for them and no where else to live. No such things as nursing homes or retirement villages in those days. As Michael was estranged from his wife and family, it was possible that he said his wife was dead and had no children otherwise they may have been asked to take him in and care for him. The State really only cared for people as a last resort - it was up to the family (or charities) to do the caring.

Hope this helps shed some light on the subject.

Regards
Jennaya

[cupoflife]

Thanks for your insights Jennaya which provides a convincing argument why Michael Kennedy would not have put his estranged wife or children on the admission forms.

I guess it would be nice to have it all tied up neatly but sometimes it does not work out that way. After mulling it over for a while, I think that in all probability, this is our Michael Kennedy that we have been searching for.

Thank you everyone for helping to make sense out of it all.

Cheers
cupoflife