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Trying to trace relative refered to as 'imbecile'

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Karen

Karen Report 15 Nov 2006 17:34

Sorry if the above offends but it is all I have to go on. Story: Grt Grt Uncle who appears to be a very sad part of the family. He married and had at least 6 children. None married and one girl is described in the 1841, 1851 and 1861 census as an 'imbecile'. I can find no trace of her after the 1861 census in the GRO or Parish records or local workhouse. Have tried the records of the local asylum and can only find her father who was admitted after a failed suicide attempt. Does any one have any ideas as to where to look next. Many thanks Karen

Wendy

Wendy Report 15 Nov 2006 17:37

Very insensitive I know -but have you tried 'Deaths' - she may have died quite young? Wendy

Chris in Sussex

Chris in Sussex Report 15 Nov 2006 17:40

Karen Have you tried looking at institution records just using her initials in the later censuses? Many enumerators did record inmates just by their initials.....I doubt if, at that time, they did it to protect identities....Probably just for speed. Sad but true. :( Chris

Researching:
Avatar...My darling Dad. 1931-2019 'Take nothing on its looks, take everything on evidence. There is no better rule' Charles Dickens, Great Expectations. 'A brickwall is a problem that you haven't solved yet' Dave Annal http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/brick-walls-and-lost-ancestors/

Michele

Michele Report 15 Nov 2006 18:26

I found someone in my family who was on 1881 census as an 'imbecile', I then found his death in a 'lunatic assylum' in 1903 from TB. Unfortunately I could find no way of knowing just what 'imbecile' meant. I did ask on here and people came up with lots of ideas but no way of really finding out. Michele

Keith

Keith Report 15 Nov 2006 22:59

Collins dictionary defines imbecile as a person of low intelligence, an IQ of below 50. Informally it is defined as a very stupid person. I would think that in the context of the times a person who was unemployasble would be so defined. Keith

Researching:
Fletcher May Allison Ashcroft Moore

Colin

Colin Report 16 Nov 2006 00:16

I did a little law as part of my studies way back in the 50s....there are ..idiots.imbeciles and lunatics....may be more and there was a legal definition for each.......heres the bad part......I can't remember any of it Cheers Colin