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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: dsjturner on Monday 08 July 24 18:29 BST (UK)

Title: Anne Barrs
Post by: dsjturner on Monday 08 July 24 18:29 BST (UK)
Hi All,

I’m looking for some help as I’m a bit puzzled. I’m a trying to find the death of my 2xg grandmother and I’m hitting a dead end. Her name was Anne Barrs, and in the 1881 census she was living with her husband (George) and children in Southwark London. In the 1891 census George is listed as a widow. They were living in Camberwell then and had a one year old daughter so I guess she died around 1890. I put in her name and tried searching between 1881 and 1891 and the only results I get are for a 75 year old lady and a few children who died in infancy. She was 28 on the 1881 census so would have been 37/38 when she passed. I just can’t seem to find her!
Title: Re: Anne Barrs
Post by: LizzieL on Monday 08 July 24 21:57 BST (UK)
There's an A Barrs - journeyman tailor's wife in a Mental institution in Coulsdon on 1901 census. Death in Croydon district in 1917 of Annie Barrs.
Her husband might have claimed he was a widower to avoid the stigma of having a wife who had been committed to an institution.
Title: Re: Anne Barrs
Post by: LizzieL on Monday 08 July 24 21:59 BST (UK)
FindMyPast has detailed of the case - definitely her
Title: Re: Anne Barrs
Post by: dsjturner on Monday 08 July 24 22:03 BST (UK)
Oh thank you very much for that. Yes that would be her as George was a tailor. Thank you so much that clears up a lot!
Title: Re: Anne Barrs
Post by: dsjturner on Monday 08 July 24 22:14 BST (UK)
Quote from: LizzieL on Monday 08 July 24 21:59 BST (UK)
FindMyPast has detailed of the case - definitely her
Would this be a newspaper article? I’m going to the library on Wednesday so I will look it up!
Title: Re: Anne Barrs
Post by: Ashtone on Monday 08 July 24 23:11 BST (UK)
FindMyPast has the Bethlem Hospital casebook for Annie Barrs (dated 1891).
Her husband sent her there, according to the record.
Suffering from "acute mania". Cause - childbearing.
Title: Re: Anne Barrs
Post by: Ashtone on Monday 08 July 24 23:23 BST (UK)
1911 census --

She's a patient in the Surrey County Lunatic Asylum.
Title: Re: Anne Barrs
Post by: dsjturner on Monday 08 July 24 23:29 BST (UK)
Thank you both very much, that’s been very helpful! The family story said that she died of pneumonia but I guess that was to cover up what really happened.
Title: Re: Anne Barrs
Post by: Ashtone on Monday 08 July 24 23:32 BST (UK)
1891 census -- St George the Martyr Southwark

She's a patient in Bethlem Royal Hospital (under her initials). Birth year: 1851.
Title: Re: Anne Barrs
Post by: LizzieL on Tuesday 09 July 24 07:13 BST (UK)
Maybe she did die of pneumonia - but in 1917, not when you originally thought.

Title: Re: Anne Barrs
Post by: dsjturner on Tuesday 09 July 24 09:14 BST (UK)
Quote from: LizzieL on Tuesday 09 July 24 07:13 BST (UK)
Maybe she did die of pneumonia - but in 1917, not when you originally thought.
Yes that’s true! I’ve ordered her death certificate so will see what that says. Thank you for your help once again!