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Laura Hooper - how to find out about Asylum records

  • Thread starter Thread starter genie
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genie

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Great grandmother Laura was born 1874 Hospital Street, Birmingham. Father Alfred Mother Emma. Married George Guest 1891 Bishops Ryder. Had five children then about 1905 disappeared. I have searched the death index but cannot find her. Possibly admitted to an asylum. If this is the case does anyone know if on death the authorities would just cremate or bury the body. Would they give the body back to the family to do it? Would the death be registered in the normal way, or just in the hosptial records.Any help appreciated on how to go forward to try to find out what happened to Laura. Thanks in advance
 
Laura Hooper - asylum records

thank you John for replying to my query.I have looked at the site and found it to be excellent. The Guest family were living at Coleman Street in 1901. If Laura was admitted to an asylum I will now search all the records I can at Birmingham Library (time permitting) and hope she turns up at All Saints. There are others though, and the records for these may turn up trumps.
 
Hi Laura
One of mine died in Birmingham Asylum in 1883. Birmingham Library was excellent - found her file, copied it to me -all the doctors notes- absolutely fascinating stuff. She was buried at Witton Cemetery in a pauper's grave. Apparently inmates were not allowed a headstone of any sort just a number :( :(
Hope this helps - I live in New Zealand so you can imagine how pleased I was!
Marlene
 
My grandmother died in Rubery Asylum in 1973 aged 98 after a stay of 63 years. She was cremated "on the state" at Brandwood cemetery. Unfortunately Rubery reckon they have "lost" her file. I have tried Birmingham Library and found her in a day book, but that's all. If anyone has any ideas PLEASE let me know.
 
Hi Grace
I wonder if you have run into some sort of privacy law restriction? 1973 is not that long ago so I would check to see if there is a 100 year law which applies to all but the nearest relative...? Sorry i am not familiar with British Privacy laws so you might need to get some advice on this. Have you got a Community Law Office/Citizen's Advice Bureau or similar where you can check?
Marlene
 
Hello Marlene,
I think I have tried almost everything. I have a letter from the appropriate authority to view my grandmother's records, but the library can't help me. I sent off a letter to the folk who hold Rubery records and they said the papers seem to have been "lost". I do know from previous nurses who worked at Rubery that my grandmother's file should contain a photograph as well as her records. I would settle for a picture of her since I didn't even know she lived 'til 1975. I was always told she died in 1911.
There are no photographs of my family before 1938ish, everything was destroyed by my mother. There is no one left in my family to help and finding the Rubery files is my only hope.
Oh well we live in hope and die in............
Thanks for your help.
Grace.
 
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