Maria Elizabeth Hardy (nee Smith) b. 1861 is missing in 1901

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Working on the age in that article, there's a Maria Hardy, widow, admitted to Southwark Workhouse in July 1902 - aged 37. She's discharged a few days later to Banstead (a mental health institution)

Also Maria Hardy b c1864 is admitted to City Road Workhouse, Holborn in August 1898. She leaves next day along with John A Hardy, newborn

HARDY, JOHN  ANDREW      
mmn SMITH     
Q3 1898  ST GILES  Volume 01B  Page 627

Added: sadly

John Andrew Hardy
Age    0
Death Registration Q4 1898
St Giles Vol 1b p363

[Sparklecat170]

This is fascinating research and I am so grateful. If this is my Maria Hardy it puts into context why her son Samuel didn’t want to talk about her. The only thing that niggles is that I have her birth certificate and she was born in 1861 not 1864. That’s not to say it’s not her but it leaves me with a small element of doubt. I suspect the Maria Hardy in the article and this info about the workhouse and the mental health hospital are the same person but are they ‘my’ Maria Hardy who officially was 3 years older??
Re the newspaper article how could I find out whether she was sentenced for the crime and if so what punishment she received.
As I said I am so grateful to you all , I clearly have a long way to go with developing my expertise.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Have found the reception order fr the 1902 admission. Maria, a widow and former needle woman, is of unsound mind. On examination she's acting strangely, believes she is the Queen, her son is the king and she's worried about her subjects. Little of her background is recorded, apart from her cousin being a Thomas Wiltshire of Old Kent Road

[Ladyhawk]

Working on the age in that article, there's a Maria Hardy, widow, admitted to Southwark Workhouse in July 1902 - aged 37. She's discharged a few days later to Banstead (a mental health institution)

Also Maria Hardy b c1864 is admitted to City Road Workhouse, Holborn in August 1898. She leaves next day along with John A Hardy, newborn

HARDY, JOHN  ANDREW      
mmn SMITH     
Q3 1898  ST GILES  Volume 01B  Page 627

Added: sadly

John Andrew Hardy
Age    0
Death Registration Q4 1898
St Giles Vol 1b p363

The only thing that niggles is that I have her birth certificate and she was born in 1861 not 1864. That’s not to say it’s not her but it leaves me with a small element of doubt. I suspect the Maria Hardy in the article and this info about the workhouse and the mental health hospital are the same person but are they ‘my’ Maria

I can’t find a baptism London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923 to confirm John’s parents. Perhaps obtaining his birth certificate might be of help - a digital image of the b/c from GRO cost £2.50

Edit to add

Have found the reception order fr the 1902 admission. Maria, a widow and former needle woman, is of unsound mind. On examination she's acting strangely, believes se is the Queen, her osn is the king and she's worried about her subjects.

 Little of her background is recorded, apart from her cousin being a Thomas Wiltshire of Old Kent Road

Is this Maria birth entry?

SMITH, MARIA  ELIZABETH     mmn WILSHURE 
GRO Reference: 1861  D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE SOUTHWARK  Volume 01D  Page 167

Her marriage on 6 Aug 1882 to Joseph Hardy, one of the witnesses was a George Wiltshire

Samuel Hardy age 11
William Hardy   age 8
Admission Date   6 Jun 1901 Lambeth
Discharge date 8th Jun 1901 Lambeth
Relative Aunt Mrs Stratton
London, England, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1764-1921

[wivenhoe]

Ancestry London School Admissions and Discharges
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1938/

Canterbury Road School
HARDY Joseph Thomas     admitted 25 Jun 1888   born 7 Aug 1882
parent Joseph res.  85 Blockhouse St

HARDY George Gabriel     admitted 25 Jun 1888   born 8  Feb 1885
parent Joseph res.  85 Blockhouse St


HARDY George Gabriel     admitted 24 Jun 1889   born 8  Feb 1885
parent Joseph res.    43 SHARRATT St

JONES Harriet                 admitted 24 Jun 1889   born 8  Feb 1885
father William  res.  43 SHARRATT St         born 16 May 1884


HARDY Lilly Frances         admitted  15 Jun 1891  born 5 Mar 1887
parent Joseph res.  43 Sharratt St

JONES Edward                admitted  15 Jun 1891  born  15 Dec 1887
parent David George res. 43 Sharratt St

[Pinetree]

The 1902 reception order found by Mabel does look promising. I see a  George Wiltshire was a witness at Maria and Joseph’s wedding.

Pinetree

[Sparklecat170]

I'm not sure whether to be pleased or not because this is definitely my Maria Hardy.  Her mother's maiden name was Wiltshire so any doubt I had due to the different YOB has been cleared.  I'm sure many of us would be happy to take a few years off if we thought we could get away with it!

I have looked at the digital birth certificate for the baby John Andrew and his father is stated as Joseph so all is correct.  I didn't know anything about this baby and it's sad he died so soon after he was born.

As I said before it's no wonder that it was all a big secret but isn't it great that some super sleuth genealogists can uncover it in a matter of days.

I still need to find Maria's death so I shall concentrate on that. I can't believe I would ever have got this far without you all.

[Ladyhawk]

Thanks for letting us know good news that you have confirmation that John Andrew Hardy was their son.

Well done to Mabel for finding the workhouse records and that she was transferred to Banstead.

If Maria didn't die before 1921 census she could be listed with initials only at Banstead Mental Hospital, Sutton 

Don't know if this link will be for any help regarding Banstead https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F103137

[Milliepede]

Yes great progress on this one