Young Timothy: Found At Last?

Young Timothy Moynahan (born May 5th, 1861), who was twelve years old when he suffered an attack of meningitis in 1873 (that resulted in admission to the London Lunatic Asylum in February 11, 1878) is one of my ongoing obsessions.

1878

"Removed To London"

Source: Essex Record; 14 Feb 1878; page 1 of 4

On my recent trip to the Archives of Ontario (September 2017) my obsession with Timothy was renewed following the help I received from the amazing reference staff there. I believe that I am even closer to locating his final resting place.

I also found a reference to a patient ("Tom M.") with some details identical to Timothy Moynahan in a book by Geoffrey Reaume "Remembrance of Patients Past: Life at the Toronto Hospital for the Insane". 

"Remembrance of Patients Past: Life at the Toronto Hospital for the Insane" by Geoffrey Reaume

Geoffrey Reaume's book, "Remembrance of Patients Past: Life at the Toronto Hospital for the Insane" brings to light the stories of the people, like Timothy, who were confined to the Toronto Hospital for the Insane. Geoffrey writes,

"Psychiatric patients as individual human beings, rather than a collection of labels and anonymous numbers, is what this book is all about.The 70-year time frame, 1870-1940, also covers much of the lifespan of many of the people who will be discussed in these pages, as was the case for Tom M., mentioned at the beginning of this chapter. It is the lives of people like him and his contemporaries to which the book is devoted, this remembrance of patients past."

I feel so incredibly grateful for this book and the life-long work of Geoffrey Reaume. Geoffrey has really helped me to understand the life and times of my asylum ancestors so that I can honour them and keep their memory alive.

Timothy Moynahan (1861-?)

Timothy was the son of Timothy Moynahan (Sr) (1813-1902) and Archange Parent (1824-1903). This was Timothy Sr.'s second marriage following the death of his first wife Margaret (Cronin) Moynahan (1811-1859).

I believe that when Timothy's father Timothy Sr.  died in London, Ontario in 1902, that he was visiting with his son Timothy Jr in the London asylum and died there. I have no proof of this but I also have no idea what other business would cause Timothy to travel from Windsor to London, Ontario at 89 years of age? 

The London Asylum
1878 to 1906

 

Archives of Ontario:  London Psychiatric Hospital patient registers 1870-1957

In June 2016, I visited the Archives of Ontario to access the records for Timothy Moynahan Reg. No 1300. Here are some points taken from the Patient Files (note xxxx indicates words that I cannot decipher)

• Oct 17, 1878: Labourer, Roman Catholic, Single, Canadian: About five years ago he had an attack of xxxx-spinal meningitis amid which time he has exhibited symptoms of loss of reason - dangerous and violent -not hereditary - xxxx and temperate habits - inclined to be filthy in his habits - admitted by warrant - February xxxx 1878.
• Condition Feb, 15, 1878: Mania. Across xxxx xxxx fellow. Strong and healthy. Walks up and down halls constantly; pulling at his clothes; makes his water in floors xxx; very little can be got from him because he will hardly talk at all; 
• Mar 1, 1878: Unchanged
• Mar 2, 1878: Put into canvas as he wont keep his clothes on
• Apr 2, 1878: Unchanged
• May 2, 1878: No change
• Jun 5, 1878: Unchanged
• Jul 2, 1878: No change
• Aug 1, 1878: No change
• Sep 2, 1878: No change
• Oct 3, 1878: No mental or physical change
• Nov 2, 1878: Unchanged 
• Dec 2, 1878: Unchanged
• Jan 1, 1879: Remains unchanged mentally and physically; walks up and down hall; still wears canvas suit;
• Feb 3, 1879: Remains unchanged
• Mar 3, 1879: Out of canvas; wearing his own clothes  
• May 2, 1879: Got quarreling with patient Silverthorne; received a slight bruise and cut on nose
• Jan 1, 1880: In good bodily health; unchanged mentally
• Sep 13, 1880: In the last few days has not been eating; Is failing; Handles knives as if he is inclined to commit suicide; Made a slight cut on wrist; Gave him a dose of calormal? to be followed by salts; Also feed him on a milk diet;
• Jan 1, 1881: In good bodily health; unchanged mentally; Eats well; Diet (extra) struck off; 
• Apr 2, 1881: Has not been eating in the last 2 or 3 days; Is in fair bodily health; 
• Jan 1, 1882: In fair bodily health; unchanged mentally; xxxx and untidy; does not work; is quiet
• Jan 1, 1883: No change in his condition in the past year
• Jan 1, 1884: In fair bodily health; unchanged mentally; xxxx untidy; but quiet & stupid; also a little xxxx picking
• Feb 23, 1884: Left cheek swollen; possibly the result of decayed teeth  
• Jan 1, 1885: In fair bodily health; unchanged mentally; works with xxxx pickers & with wagon party
• Feb 22, 1885: Broke a pane of glass lst night and cut the fleshy part of hands; applying xxxx dressing; 
• Jan 1, 1886: Hand quite well; is in fair bodily health; works almost the same as a xxxx xxxx; no mental change xxxx
• Jan 30, 1886: has large blister on bottom of heel produced by slipper
• Mar 15, 1886: Has right eye black; cause unknown; unchanged bodily & mentally
• Jan 1, 1888: In good bodily health and unchanged mentally
• Jan 1, 1889: Remains unchanged bodily and mentally
• Feb 23, 1889: Ditto; Fighting with C. Blatchford xxxx his face and neck scratched 

On August 4 1906, 
Timothy Moynahan (#1300)
Was Transferred to the Toronto  Asylum

At this point in his life, forty-five year old Timothy Moynahan likely was not even aware that he was the last living of his family
His father: Timothy Moynahan died 19 Oct 1902
His mother: Archange (Parent) Moynahan died 28 Jun 1903
His brother James Moynahan died 24 Feb 1899
His brother Enos Moynahan died 8 Aug 1903
His half-sister Mary Moynahan died 8 Apr 1905

With no next of kin, he was transferred to the Toronto Asylum

The Toronto Asylum

1906 to 1921 to ?

I came across the following information in Geoffrey Reaume's book Remembrance of Patients Past: Life at the Toronto Hospital for the Insane 

Quite a coincidence! And there's a photo of the patient in Geoffrey Reaume's book! Could Tom M. be Timothy Moynahan? If so, Timothy who was the last of his kin, has been found at long last thanks to
Geoffrey Reaume!

Based on the census reports below, I know that Timothy Moynahan lived to 1921. More research is needed.

1911 Census
The Toronto Asylum: 999 Queen St.

 

"Recensement du Canada de 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:27XQ-33C : 15 July 2016), Timothy Moynahan, 1911; citing Census, Toronto South Sub-Districts 13-72, Ontario, Canada, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,418,528.

1921 Census
The Toronto Asylum: 999 Queen St.

1921 Census: Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 92; Census Place: Ward 6, Toronto South, Ontario; Page Number: 9

Next Steps?

Thanks to the amazing reference staff at the Archives of Ontario who reviewed the files, they determined that it contained restricted material that is governed by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act(FIPPA). 

In order for me to access these records I must contact the Senior Manager, Information and Privacy (Customer Service and Preservation Services, Archives of Ontario) in writing. 

I am so grateful for the helpful staff at the Archives of Ontario and will be mailing my request this week



Some helpful links:

• Remembrance of Patients Past: Life at the Toronto Hospital for the Insane ... By Geoffrey Reaume
• “If these walls could talk” - The Walls at the Provincial Asylum at 999 Queen Street West https://katywhitfield.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/if-these-walls-could-talk-final-project-ctl1799-walls-at-999-queen-street-west-katy-whitfield.pdf
• The Archives of Ontario contain records of those admitted to Toronto’s Lunatic Asylum https://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5445149-the-archives-of-ontario-contain-records-of-those-admitted-to-toronto-s-lunatic-asylum/
• Toronto Asylum general registers (1841 to 1901) can be searched at http://www.leedickson.ca/qsmhc-v1.html 
• The archives’ reference number for the overall collection is RG 10-268 through RG 10-276 and detailed descriptions of these records can be reviewed online in the archives’ descriptive database (type in "Toronto Asylum") at www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/access/our_collection.aspx
• The Lunatic Asylum http://fortyorkmaps.blogspot.ca/2013/02/the-lunatic-asylum.html
• Memorial Wall Plaques Dedicated to Patient Labourers http://torontoplaques.com/Pages/Memorial_Wall_Plaques.html

52 Ancestors #21: Catherine Moynahan "Of Unsound Mind"

This post is Part I of an in-depth study of two ancestors sent to asylums in southwestern Ontario in the late 1800s.

This is difficult and painstaking work. Difficult firstly because records are difficult to locate and navigate. The records that I am currently exploring include the Essex Gaol,  Malden Lunatic Asylum and London Lunatic Asylum records. Secondly this research is challenging because mental health in the 1800s is challenging to read and understand.

The London Lunatic Asylum around 1875 (the Asylum opened in 1870)

Insane Persons Under Asylum Treatment

The figures show that in Ontario there was one Insane person under asylum treatment for every 1044 of the population, taking the census returns of 1871 as a basis. According to returns elsewhere at the same time England had one under treatment to every 615 of her population ; Scotland, one to every 606 ; and Ireland, one to every 729.

The interesting chart below shows the numbers of the so-called "defective class" in Ontario based on the census results from 1842, 1848, 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1881. Notable is the spike in 1871.

Catherine Moynahan: A Review of the Facts

Fact 1: 1871 Census: In the 1871 census Catherine Moynahan (wife of Denis Moynahan) is marked Column 22. Infirmities: unsound mind. Catherine is 58 in 1871 (estimated birth date 1813)

Fact 2: Asylum Record: We also know when she was admitted into the asylum with thanks to http://www.ontariogenealogy.com/ . I learned of Catherine Moynahan while reading ontariogenealogy.com pages on the Malden asylum database. I ordered the source document (for a fee) and learned the following:

This is all that I have (so far)
for Catherine Moynahan (who I believe is my GGG Grandmother)

Fact 3: Death Certificate: Catherine Moynahan died March 10, 1872 at the London Lunatic Asylum. She was 46 years old (born 1826? thus a thirteen year difference fro the 1871 census record). More on the stated cause of death (marasmus) later. I will come to learn that her Asylum Reg. No is 384. (See AO information below)

Fact 4: Cause of Death: I could not decipher the cause of death in the death certificate and was delighted that it was stated again in the document below (thanks to Inspector  J.W. Langmuir ). She died from "Marasmus",  a severe form of malnutrition. Marasmus comes from the Greek word marasmos ("decay").

The Annual Report of the Inspector of Asylums, Prisons, and Public Charities, Volume 5, Part 1872 (Google eBook)  was incredibly valuable to my research. J.W. Langmuir was meticulous in his reporting. His report is dated for the year ending 30th of September 1872 (Catherine had died March 1872). Some interesting facts from the report:

• J.W. Langmuir  made 4 visits to the London Asylum in the year: On January 10 and 11, 1872. (on his October visit, he personally saw and examined every patient in the Asylum).
• There were 487 patients in residence, of which 221 were men and 266 women.
• The female patients were generally clean and neat in their personal appearance and were comfortably clothed
• Nine female patients, who were destructive in their habits, had on the canvas clothing.
• With the exception of a few very noisy and unruly patients in the female refractory ward all the rest were very quiet and orderly.
• The filthy condition in which patients are sometimes sent to Asylums from county gaols was . illustrated in the case of a patient who had just been received. The matter was brought to the notice of the Government, in order that the neglect should be brought to the notice of the local authorities.

Future Research

Casebooks, London Psychiatric Hospital, 1877-1885 
London Psychiatric Hospital patients’ clinical casebooks
Reference Code: RG 10-279 Archives of Ontario 

The Archives of Ontario explains the record keeping process fo psychiatric hospitals:

"Early patient records were transcribed by hand into large bound volumes called casebooks. Each patient was assigned a new page in the casebook, in order of admittance. Notes about the patient’s subsequent history were added to the page, which was cross-referenced to a second later page if additional space was needed. "

Records relating to the London Psychiatric Hospital 

• RG 10-279 London Psychiatric Hospital patients' clinical casebooks 1867-1906
• RG 10-280 London Psychiatric Hospital patients' clinical case files
• RG 10-281 London Psychiatric Hospital patient registers 1870-1957 
• RG 10-282 Records of the Medical Superintendent of the London Psychiatric Hospital (1871-1970)(note:  warrants for commitment or transfer of patients, registers of patients' outgoing correspondence, registers of hospital instructions and orders, conference books, physician day books, etc.)
• RG 10-283 Records of the Bursar of the London Psychiatric Hospital 1865-1923 
• RG 10-279 Clinical Casebooks Finding aid

Records relating to the Malden Lunatic Asylum

Note: The Malden Lunatic Asylum closed in 1870, and everything was transferred to the London Psychiatric Hospital.

• RG 10-283 Records of the Bursar of London Psychiatric Hospital has references to Malden
• RG 10-20-C-4-5 Day Book and Journal, Malden Lunatic Asylum 1 Jul 1865-  31 Oct 1868 (Reel 15)
• MS856 in the AO reading room have:
• RG 10-283 (Formerly RG 10-20-C-4-6  Day Book and Journal, Malden Lunatic Asylum 1 Nov 1868- 30 Dec 1870 (Reel 16)

Records relating to the Essex Gaol (jail) records:

• RG 22-1871 (Essex County Justice of the Peace, Police Magistrate and County Court Judge's Criminal Court criminal case files) 1871-1883
• RG 22-103 (Essex County Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace minutes 1821-1886)