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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Ray T on Wednesday 14 February 24 11:08 GMT (UK)
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Wasn't sure whether this should go in the Cheshire section or Kent. All will become clear! Does anyone have specific knowlege of the David Lewis centre? Specifically -
James Edward KEMP was born, in 1888, in one of the small villages in the Ramsgate/Deal area. In 1891 he and the family are in the vilage of Preston (Kent) and his father is an AgLab. As yet, I've been unable to trace them on the 1901 but in 1911 he turns up as a patient of the David Lewis Epileptic Colony in Cheshire and is said to be a "Pubic House Barman".
In 1921, he is boarding in Great Warford - just down the road - with George Henry Jennings and his half sister (and my Half Great Aunt) and James Edward's future wife Edith Mary Binnersley (Isn't life complicated!) He died in 1930, aged 42.
The question, for now, is did he move from Kent to Cheshire despite or, specifically because of his epilepsy? On the one hand, I don't see that he had any connection with Cheshire but on the other, would the treatment of epileptics at this time be confined to such an establishment as the David Lewis Centre? I'm aware that the David Lewis centre still exists and about the time we're looking at, it was mamaged by the Manchester Corporation.
Thanks in advance.
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Hi Ray
Perhaps of interest? http://catalogue.cheshirearchives.org.uk/calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=216900&pos=1 (http://catalogue.cheshirearchives.org.uk/calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=216900&pos=1)
CD
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Thanks - that would need a trip.
I think I've now found him in 1901but can't make head nor tail of the relationships between other people in the house ...... yet.
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1901 St Lawrence Ramsgate Kent.
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Alice Kemp 41 head b. St Lawrence
James Holness 18 son b St Lawrence
Ellen Holness 14 dau b, St Lawrence
Alice Holness 11 dau b. St Lawrence
John Holness 6 son b, St Lawrence
James Kemp 12 Stepson b. Preston Kent
Rhoda Kemp 11. Stepdaughter b, Ringwood kent
Florence Kemp dau 1 b. Ramsgate
Piece 828
Folio 35
Page number 16
Household schedule number 120
Marriages Dec 1898
HOLNESS Alice Maud M Thanet 2a 2068
Kemp Charles Edward Thanet 2a 2068
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Deaths Sep 1900
Kemp Charles Edward 41 Thanet 2a 582
Possible death first wife
Deaths Jun 1898
Kemp Mary Jane 48 Thanet 2a 520
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Thanks - that would need a trip.
I think I've now found him in 1901but can't make head nor tail of the relationships between other people in the house ...... yet.
You could always contact the Archives. They might be able to have a look at the pamphlet and might be able to answer any queries you had about the treatment in place for epileptics.
Was the David Lewis centre notable and treatments available mentioned in any newspapers? Could that be why James made the move to Cheshire?
Good luck
CD
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The description here states that “patients came from all over the world”:
http://tinyurl.com/ust7xzkm (http://tinyurl.com/ust7xzkm)
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A great shout Alan. Lots of good information.
CD
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That’s useful Allan insofar as it explains that they took patients from anywhere. It also goes some way to explaining why he described himself as a “barman” in 1911 but, by 1921, he was living in the community and working as a boot and shoe repairer - he presumably learned the trade in the colony.
Thanks fiddlerslass, that’s the same family I came up with but I’ve yet to bottom who belonged/was married to who - I’m sure I’ll get there!
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Just as a snapshot: using advanced search at Ancestry I found the following numbers of 1911 David Lewis patients for a few selected birthplaces
Lancashire 73
London 37
Cheshire 27
Kent 7
Devon 4
Hampshire 3
Cornwall 1
Dorset 0
Scotland 4
Wales 5
USA 1
For the seven patients with Kent as birthplace I checked where they were in 1901 (just by using Ancestry suggestions)
3 in Kent
1 in Devon
1 in Buckinghamshire (in an epileptic colony)
1 not found in 1911
1 not found at all