Jessie was born on 22nd June 1895, the first child of James and Margaret (nee McTear). She was living at 65 Strand Street in Whitehaven with her parents and two siblings on the 1901 census but had moved to nearby 17 Scotch Street in 1911. A first cousin twice removed, she appeared on my radar as a result of the unusual death of her brother, Thomas. My W57 blog says :
Thomas died after attending a party in Whitehaven on 31st May 1915 which was held to celebrate his sister Jessie's marriage (to Matthew Jones) on Whit Monday a week earlier. He and his sister, Janet (aged 14), were walking three of their friends (aged 13 and 14) home around 10.00 p.m. Thomas had his sister and one of the female friends on each arm. They were passed by an older man, James Hallett (aged 26), with a women on each of his arms and some words were said which Thomas took as being derogatory towards the girls. The two men got into a fight which led to Thomas suffering a fatal injury and dying a short while later.
Thomas died after attending a party in Whitehaven on 31st May 1915 which was held to celebrate his sister Jessie's marriage (to Matthew Jones) on Whit Monday a week earlier. He and his sister, Janet (aged 14), were walking three of their friends (aged 13 and 14) home around 10.00 p.m. Thomas had his sister and one of the female friends on each arm. They were passed by an older man, James Hallett (aged 26), with a women on each of his arms and some words were said which Thomas took as being derogatory towards the girls. The two men got into a fight which led to Thomas suffering a fatal injury and dying a short while later.
On 24th May 1915 Jessie married Matthew, a "Railway Locomotive Fireman". By the time the 1939 Register was produced they were living in Greater Manchester and he had become a "Police Constable" which he remained until his death in 1953. As you will imagine, the surname 'Jones' is usually almost impossible to research without some knowledge of knowing what you are looking for, and Matthew was no exception.
Jessie died seven years later on 15th January 1960 at 18 Highcroft Road, Erdington which is in a suburb of Birmingham. This was the generic address for Highcroft Hospital, a psychiatric hospital which had been caring for long-term chronic and short-term acute patients with mental and nervous disorders since 1948 when the NHS was formed. Why she was there isn't known, possibly dementia, but apparently records do exist which could explain her situation and treatment.
Although it called itself a psychiatric hospital, the locals saw it as a ‘lunatic asylum’. Treatment was primitive and electro convulsive treatment was standard. Jessie died of "cerebral thrombosis, cardiovascular degeneration and hypertension".The electric shock treatment possibly caused Jessie's cerebral thrombosis which is a blood clot on the brain whose symptoms may include headache, abnormal vision and seizures.
The hospital eventually closed in 1996 and the mental health facility was moved to more modern buildings because the hospital was no longer fit for purpose. It was bought by property developers and turned into luxury apartments. I'm not sure I would want to live in a building which had such an unfortunate history.
Although it called itself a psychiatric hospital, the locals saw it as a ‘lunatic asylum’. Treatment was primitive and electro convulsive treatment was standard. Jessie died of "cerebral thrombosis, cardiovascular degeneration and hypertension".The electric shock treatment possibly caused Jessie's cerebral thrombosis which is a blood clot on the brain whose symptoms may include headache, abnormal vision and seizures.
The hospital eventually closed in 1996 and the mental health facility was moved to more modern buildings because the hospital was no longer fit for purpose. It was bought by property developers and turned into luxury apartments. I'm not sure I would want to live in a building which had such an unfortunate history.