We forget or fail to think about the problems of mental illness affecting our ancestors. Great story, really makes you think about early treatment and that this is not a new problem.
What a sad story. I found a number of people in my family who had been institutionalized in the late 19th - early 20th century. We will never know what their troubles were. In some cases I wonder if they weren’t neurodivergent or had some other issue that was misdiagnosed as mental illness. My great uncle was institutionalized around the same time as Michael. Fortunately, he came home.
Unfortunately, my guess is it's more common than we think. I'm glad your ancestor was able to come home. Michael died in 1909 when his daughter (my great grandmother) was 13 years old. I think she was probably quite aware of what had happened. Later in her life, she spent several years at the same asylum, in part due to lingering unresolved trauma of what happened to her father. The records are pretty scare in details.
We forget or fail to think about the problems of mental illness affecting our ancestors. Great story, really makes you think about early treatment and that this is not a new problem.
A sad story but important to try and understand our ancestors lives. Does leave you wanting to know more. And what horrible treatments.
Who was this guy ? The video was also interesting, sad story !
This is the father of your grandmother, Elizabeth.
Wow! downright eye opening. a little bit scary too.
Absolutely agree!
What a fascinating, yet tragic, story. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you.
It's remarkable that you were able to piece this together, and debunk family lore, by your thorough research.
What a sad story. I found a number of people in my family who had been institutionalized in the late 19th - early 20th century. We will never know what their troubles were. In some cases I wonder if they weren’t neurodivergent or had some other issue that was misdiagnosed as mental illness. My great uncle was institutionalized around the same time as Michael. Fortunately, he came home.
Unfortunately, my guess is it's more common than we think. I'm glad your ancestor was able to come home. Michael died in 1909 when his daughter (my great grandmother) was 13 years old. I think she was probably quite aware of what had happened. Later in her life, she spent several years at the same asylum, in part due to lingering unresolved trauma of what happened to her father. The records are pretty scare in details.