SIMMONS - Bedford Lunatic Asylum

[Carol22]

Hi,

I would appreciate it very much if anyone is going to Bedford Archive if they would look up the following for me.

I have been researching William Simmons born Bedford 1821 who came to Barnsley, he was in two local asylums for much of his life, I have recently aquired case notes in which they say, HIS FATHER IN ASYLUM SOME YEARS.
I was in Bedford in January and found the following stays:

28th July 1832   for 5 days

2nd October 1834  for 1 week

HIS NAME WAS JOHN SIMMONS OF BEDFORD ST. CUTHBERT.

He came out of the Battle of Waterloo in and married in Kent in 1816 then came back to Bedford.
so if anyone can look for me from 1816 to 1843 when he died I would really appreciate it.

Caz

[cathymcc]

Caz


I will have a look next week and see what records there are [also in records of the private mental hospital].

See also:  blars.adlibsoft.com

and the Bedford Gaol page which will come up on a search

cathy

[janan]

Hi Caz

I've tried but so far failed to find John in 1841 - will keep trying

Jan

[johnP-bedford]

Hello Jan,

...that's because he's transcribed as John Semmons

HO107  Piece 10  Book: 18 Folio: 15; Page: 24; Line: 16

see ...  http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,211732.msg1107952.html#msg1107952

Regards John

[janan]

Thanks John, I'll stop looking for him
Jan

[Carol22]

Hi everyone,
thanks for your kind help.

Cathy I would appreciate you looking at Bedford Archive, I have been trying to persuade my husband to go on a business trip down there somewhere and drop me off, but no luck yet.

I know the Archive has the receiving and discharge books for Bedford Lunatic Asylum, that is where I found him  before
admission 28.07.1832
discharge   02.10.1832
and
admission  02.10.1834
discharge   02.03.1835

 His son who moved in c 1840  to Barnsley was  in two local asylums from  1863 and died there in 1895. I have recently obtained the case notes where he said his Father had been in the asylum for some years.

I have been researching the Simmons family for about 6 years now, and presumed like most of us with 'lunatics' that in those days it would be depression etc. butwith these notes I found the poor man cut his throat while in the asylum and wished himself dead and was thought to be a threat to himself for the 22 years.

I do not know if Bedford Archive has any of the case notes, I did not see any when I was there in January.

Again, thanks to all for the help it is greatly appreciated.

Caz

[Martin Aaron]

Hi there
There was a Serjeant John Simmonds from Bedford in the 40th Foot at Waterloo. He served in No.6 (Philips) Company and was wounded in the battle. I wonder if it was a head wound which may have led to his dischage and insanity?

I'd be very interested to hear any info you may have on this John Simmons.

Thanks

Martin Aaron

[cathymcc]

I haven't done this yet Martin - so apologies.  There may be little - I cant expect them to know much about the effects of military stress etc in those days. 

   I think Nigel Lutt at Bedford Archives would be interested in your John SIMMONS [he is the military expert at Beds Archives so even may know of him].   

If I were you I would email Nigel and tell him what you have discovered & see what other information there is to add?

But I will also see what I can find

cathy

[Carol22]

Hi Martin and all who have responded.

I am fine with all the census returns,  I have all John's papers from the N.A. regarding his service in the Battle of Waterloo, he was actually an out patient of Chelsea Hospital and was shot in the leg. He was a shoemaker by trade. he received 1/- per week pension. on the 1st  December 1843 he was alledgedly murdered and set on fire in a barn up the Kimbolton Road. two tramps were accused and let off. it was in the Bedford Mercury and Huntingdon Express on most of the front page on Saturday 9th December 1843

I found John had two stays in Bedford Lunatic Asylum 28th July1832 and 2nd October 1834. I just wondered if he had stayed more. As far as I can be sure he was never in Goal  or the Workhouse.
His wife Ellen (Eleanor) was in the Workhouse many times and died there in 1855.

Any help would be wonderful

regards

Caz