When I was very little a lady asked me “who are you” and I replied Jane Eyre.
My mother & grandmother introduced me to the old film version of Jane Eyre, and they were overwhelmed by the story of nurse Grace Pool and her charge Betha Mason’s insanity.
It was not until 2006, after the death of my mother, that I discovered my maternal great grandmother was deemed insane 49 years of her long life, kept in the Glasgow Asylum system, and dying on the mental wards of the Glasgow Southern General Hospital 1952, in her 80’s, having had 8 healthy children, but in 1903 loosing her eldest son William, who drowned age 14, just months after my grandfather Alexander was born. She was in the Asylum by Christmas 1903.
Finding my great grandmother when she was lost for so long in the shadows of family shame, recorded deceased on my grandfather’s marriage cretificate!…I bring dear great grandmother Jeannie McKechnie back to our hearts & perhaps I will find out more about her, no longer the mad lady shut in the family attic xxx
What a heart-wrenching story. I so hope you find out more about her, find her records. Who wouldn’t be “insane” post-partem and losing an older child? Troublesome women were often “put away” those days. I have another friend with a very similar story. Let us know if you find more.
Sep 28, 2013 @ 10:09:57
You find the most amazing material, Sandy. Thank you for sharing this wonderful video.
Sep 29, 2013 @ 04:32:07
I’m addicted to Pinterest. I find loads of cool stuff there.
Sep 29, 2013 @ 10:21:03
When I was very little a lady asked me “who are you” and I replied Jane Eyre.
My mother & grandmother introduced me to the old film version of Jane Eyre, and they were overwhelmed by the story of nurse Grace Pool and her charge Betha Mason’s insanity.
It was not until 2006, after the death of my mother, that I discovered my maternal great grandmother was deemed insane 49 years of her long life, kept in the Glasgow Asylum system, and dying on the mental wards of the Glasgow Southern General Hospital 1952, in her 80’s, having had 8 healthy children, but in 1903 loosing her eldest son William, who drowned age 14, just months after my grandfather Alexander was born. She was in the Asylum by Christmas 1903.
Finding my great grandmother when she was lost for so long in the shadows of family shame, recorded deceased on my grandfather’s marriage cretificate!…I bring dear great grandmother Jeannie McKechnie back to our hearts & perhaps I will find out more about her, no longer the mad lady shut in the family attic xxx
Sep 29, 2013 @ 21:21:49
What a heart-wrenching story. I so hope you find out more about her, find her records. Who wouldn’t be “insane” post-partem and losing an older child? Troublesome women were often “put away” those days. I have another friend with a very similar story. Let us know if you find more.