Lunatic asylum but Chelsea Pensioner?

[rubymelia]

Hi I have come across a census (1871) about my ggg grandfather. I know that he was born in Ireland and he served in the army and was a Chelsea Pensioner.
This census was taken from the District Country Lunatic Asylum in Warwick (where I knew he was living in at the time - he also died in Warwick). His age matches up as well as it saying he was married and also lists his occupation as a "Pensioner" (does this reference to the Chelsea Pensioner?).
I was wondering whether this really is him? If he was a Chelsea Pensioner, how would he be left in a lunatic asylum? Also for every patient listed on the census (inc my ggg grandad) their place of birth says Warwick Union, Warwickshire?

Thanks for any help.

[Jebber]

All Army Pensioners were Chelsea Pensioners, there were in Pensioners who lived in, and out Pensioners who could be living anywhere. You man would have been an out Pensioner.

[Rena]

Not all Army Chelsea Pensioners lived in the Chelsea Hospital and not all Navy Greenwich Pensioners lived in the Greenwhich Hospital because those facilities were over subscribed. The buildings look massive but as history books show, we were always at war somewhere, thus the buildings couldn't cope.   Pensioners either lived in alternative hospital facilities if they were ill or with family (which is what my Greenwich Pensioner ancestor did) or had lodgings somewhere.

Does your ancestor have the word "lunatic" alongside his name?  If so, this could mean he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder.

[MaxD]

Following up Rena's comment, it is worth observing that what were then called lunatic asylums we would now call mental health hospitals or similar and that there was little real  treatment for even the mildest mental illness.  The usual remedy was to lock the patients away.  One of my ggrandfathers spent a long period at the end of his life in such an institution and, having seen his patients notes, was clearly suffering from depression and spent his time doing a splendid job as the hospital handyman whilst still a "lunatic".

Giving the place of birth as the Warwick Union seems perhaps idleness on the part of the enumerator as it implies they were all born in the workhouse or workhouse infirmary and for them all to land up in the asylum in 1871 with presumably a mix of ages seems beyond coincidence?  Might be worth for interest looking for some of the people in the 1861?

MaxD

[ShaunJ]

I know that he was born in Ireland and he served in the army and was a Chelsea Pensioner.

Is this William Faithorn?  Both his army discharge papers and the 1861 census (in Warwick) show that he was born in Battersea, London circa 1819.

[JohninSussex]

Giving the place of birth as the Warwick Union seems perhaps idleness on the part of the enumerator as it implies they were all born in the workhouse or workhouse infirmary

Not quite, but it does imply they were all born in the area covered by the workhouse, ie the parishes that made up the Warwick Union, whereas I imagine the asylum covered a larger area - perhaps Warwickshire as a whole.  So yes I think idleness on the part of either the enumerator or more likely the administrator of the asylum.

[hurworth]

Following up Rena's comment, it is worth observing that what were then called lunatic asylums we would now call mental health hospitals or similar and that there was little real  treatment for even the mildest mental illness.  The usual remedy was to lock the patients away.  One of my ggrandfathers spent a long period at the end of his life in such an institution and, having seen his patients notes, was clearly suffering from depression and spent his time doing a splendid job as the hospital handyman whilst still a "lunatic".

My gtgtgt-grandmother who was born in the 1820s spent her last decade in Colney Hatch asylum.   I've seen her notes and I think she had tertiary syphyllis.

She is described as being helpful on the ward.  She had delusions of wealth and thought her aunt had left her 8,000 pounds.  I just wish the doctor had written down the aunt's name!  The notes mention that her brother had visited her.  On admission she is described as tall (but it doesn't state the height) and 6 1/2 stone. 

What was reassuring though was I got the impression from the notes that she was treated very kindly.  I wasn't sure I really wanted to see her notes but I'm glad I did.