Bodmin asylum lookup

[philipsearching]

Could a kind Rootschatter who has Anc***** have a quick look to see if Johanna JAMES (born c1849, possibly died 1871) was in Bodmin asylum?

Many thanks
Philip

[fizzybubble]

Is this Johanna James born St Ives

[Pennines]

Are you meaning any census during her lifetime?

There appear to be 3 Joanna/Johanna James -- on each census 1851-1871 -- but none appear to be in Bodmin asylum at the time of the census. It might be possible that she died there of course.

[philipsearching]

My fault - I should have added better detail.

Joanna (Johanna) JAMES
birth Jun qtr 1849 Redruth, daughter of Abraham T JAMES and Johanna (nee GRAY)
found on census 1851 Gwennap with family
found on census 1861 Redruth with family
found on census 1871 Redruth with family.
not found on 1881 census or later

There is a history of mental health difficulties in the family which is why I wondered about Bodmin Asylum and this possible death (even though the age is 2 years off):
Dec qtr 1871 Bodmin vol 5c p70 - JAMES Johanna age 19

Of the 11 children of Abraham T JAMES and Johanna GRAY, she is the only one I can't trace.  She doesn't appear on later censuses with her siblings and I can't find a marriage.  She is not named in any family wills.

Philip

[Pennines]

I can't see her in 1881 either -- there is a Johanna James who dies in Alverstoke, Hampshire in 1878 (b abt 1850) --- but inconsiderately she is on the 1871 census in Alverstoke!

Think you may have to splash out on that death cert you found, if only for elimination purposes.

I have checked Cornwall OPC - but of course it is not comprehensive. If you think she may have been in the Asylum - there appear to be admission records held by Cornwall Record Office.

http://crocat.cornwall.gov.uk/DServe/dserve.exe

[philipsearching]

Think you may have to splash out on that death cert you found, if only for elimination purposes.

I have checked Cornwall OPC - but of course it is not comprehensive. If you think she may have been in the Asylum - there appear to be admission records held by Cornwall Record Office.

This family is an unhappy breed.
A few days ago I received a death cert for another woman - cause of death "drowned herself in a well while temporarily insane"
Johanna's mother spent many years in an asylum.
Other relatives in the 19th century were committed to institutions.

The reason I asked about Anc* is that they have "Bodmin, Cornwall, England, Inmates at St. Lawrence's Asylum, 1840-1900" but I don't have a current sub to view it.
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61185&geo_a=r&o_iid=41013&o_lid=41013&o_sch=Web+Property

Philip

[fizzybubble]

Nothing on Ancestry.

Fizzy

[Pennines]

Thanks for that information Philip -- I hadn't realised the actual Asylum records were on Ancestry. I see they have Bodmin Gaol records on there as well!!

You learn something new every day. Thank you.

[fizzybubble]

Asylum records and Gaol records have been on OPC database for ages.

Fizzy