Thomas Martin, admitted February 2, 1875, record number 1. Aged 30, white, single, from County Tipera (Tipperary?), Ireland, in the US for seven years. Cause of dependence: feeble-minded or insane, caused by sunstroke. Can do laboring work and is quite industrious. "Will probably not recover. His physical ability is good and is able to perform considerable labor. Was committed as a vagrant by Moses W. Fish Esq."
Alexander Hoffminer, admitted February 22, 1875, record number 42. Aged 60, white, single, from Lengo (?), Germany, in the US for 23 years. Cause of dependence: Paralysis. "This man is a professional surgeon and physician and has practiced medicine since 1854. Had his diploma from New York City College and through neglect and carelessness has become partially paralyzed."
Eliza Hall, admitted April 17, 1873, record number 52. Aged 73, white, widowed, from Kirk Harris, County Antrim, Ireland, in the US for 14 years. Cause of dependence: Old age and destitution. "This is a respectable old woman [who] has no near relative that feels any special interest in her. In all probability she will remain a dependent inmate."
Maria O'Rourke, admitted March 29, 1870, record number 78. Aged 69, white, widowed, from Ballyconnell, County Cavan, Ireland, in the US for 53 years. Cause of dependence: Broken leg. "This woman is intelligent, and had the misfortune to have her leg broken by the New Haven R. Road. She is the mother of 24 children, 12 boys and 12 girls. The husband died in this house."
Albert Miller, admitted August 25, 1874, record number 76. Aged 57, white, married, from Germany (I can't figure out what the town and county are referring to), in the US for 19 years. Can cut wood and make fires. Cause of dependence: General debility. "This man has had property but through misfortune has lost all. He is really a pitaful [sic] object."
Ezra Yerks, admitted November 27, 1867, record number 67. Aged 69, white, widowed, from Mount Pleasant, New York. Cause of dependence: Paralysis. "This is a Christianlike man. He had a great dislike to become a pauper. He asserted on his arrival here that he would rather die than be obliged to become an inmate of a Poorhouse but since has changed his mind and says he is contented."
Phebe Rocco, admitted August 7, 1872, record number 159. Aged 58, white, single, from Eastchester, NY. Cause of dependence: Epilepsy. Can do general housework. "This woman is of respectable family and in consequence of her being subjected to these fits have [sic] been placed here in this house and probably will remain dependent."
William W. Wetherspoon, admitted December 12, 1866, record number 176. Aged 40, white, single, from New York, NY. Cause of dependence: Feeble minded and insane. "This man is insane. It is hereditary with the family. He has a dower of about two hundred dollars per annum which serves [?], boards and clothes him. He is a classical scholar."
A sad but fascinating mix of stories, and an indicator of how attitudes have changed. Imagine being committed to what is essentially a workhouse just because you're epileptic. And it's interesting how they mix cold facts with subjective opinions: 'This man is a pitaful object.' And how could they know that Thomas Martin's 'insanity' was caused by sunstroke? (It's also interesting that he wasn't 'offered a home,' but 'committed as a vagrant.' So did he enter willingly?) And then there was the woman who'd had twenty four children. That surely must have taken some sort of a toll. Every one of these is a case for discussion.
ReplyDeleteIn publishing this post on the historical society's Facebook page I described these records as "brutally candid." The writer really didn't hold back.
ReplyDeleteAs I understand it, before the advent of anti-seizure medication, many epileptics were confined to institutions for life, especially because untreated, severe seizures can lead to permanent brain damage. Even after anti-seizure medication became available, many epileptics continued to live in institutions. One of the parts I remember most vividly from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is the epileptic patient who refused to take his medicine because it makes his teeth fall out, and secretly gives his medicine to another epileptic, who doesn't have any teeth as a result.
I doubt they knew for certain that Thomas Martin's insanity was caused by sunstroke. I'm not sure who the writer of these records was, but even if it was a physician, the medical understanding of the causes of mental illness was very limited in 1870 (as it still is, to some extent, today).
One of the most heart-rending records for me is Ezra Yerks, who would rather die than be committed to the almshouse, but ultimately capitulates.
Is there a death/burial record for Ezra Yerks?
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