General Chat

Gwen that is so sad. My gran was said to have run away to America in 1895 from a convent. That much she told everyone but no one knows why she was there or what it was like. Things must have been awful for htem back then My Mum had a breakdown when my sister was killed in an accident and ended up in an asylum . She told me they beat her for asking for an egg one day, she didn't know you had to buy them. Luckily she had a good husband who got her home but if she hadn't had a family that cared what could have happened .That was in the 1940's. Germaine. x

How dreadfully sad and so frightening to think of living in a time when such an action was possible. Bless that poor woman. About 11 years ago I started going to classes at our local college for Stress Management. There was a woman there in her forties, who had only recently been released from a mental hospital where she had been put when she was in her teens for being out of control. This woman is fairly intelligent and was learning to live 'outside' again, in a council flat with a carer visiting daily and helping her to get out and about to these classes. She did an art class too and some others that I can't recall. I still see her out and about in the city, sometimes alone, sometimes with a carer, and she is still a very troubled lady, but she has a life, she has cats to keep her company and she shops and can get around the city herself. I was quite horrified to realise she had been locked up for no proper reason for almost 30 years and had missed the chance to meet someone and have a family. I wonder if there are still people in institutions that no one bothers about or if they all were released at the same time, and had to learn how to live again. Funny old world - still.

Gwen that's so sad, thanks for sharing it with us. Yvette xx

Gwen, thanks for letting us read about your great gran. It's the sort of story that should be remembered. Makes the blood boil - such a wicked injustice. Do hope you will eventually trace her. Can't help wondering, if you were to put names, dates, etc, to the story, whether some of these wonderfully kind and helpful people on these boards might be able to help you with your search ? Best wishes, Joy.

My gran (born 1900) replied to someone who was going on about the good old days, she said ' I remember the good old days, and they were b****y awful'........women had it very hard,................. remembering your great gran.....................

Thanks for reading i told it because there was only me and an 83yr old cousin knew,,Now you do so she wont be forgotton somthing will trigger the story in the years,The family were dissowned by the stepfather leaving them all in poverty,

qwen thats so sad but at least she remembered you and you,ll have that memory lol joyce

So sad Gwen Women were really second class citizens in those days So glad we,ve moved on from then Maureen

Oh Gwen, that is a sad story. It's horrific what a lot of women went through. I've just finished reading 'Kathy's Story' about life in the Magdalen Laundries and other institutions which was awful. Even worse when it's your own flesh and blood. Carol

Oh, but Gwen you have found Louisa, she's wrapped up warm in your heart, bless her. Cherryx

Gwen that is so sad......

Oh Gwen That is so sad, but at least she is remembed by you :-D) Ann

Can i tell you about my Greatgran Louisa Her first husband died in 1897,gran had a thriving laundry buisness,and six almost adult childern,Not poverty not rich even ther first granchild the next year, Things ran smoothly as possible in those days ,then she remarried a widower with an adult son,within a year the husband and son had her commited,as you know thoses days it was possible the marriage was just to get the laundry. ~ ~ ~ No one knew where she was then yearslater somehow they found her,her grandaughter visited her in a mental hospital,she was totaly sane knew the granchild new all members of the family,she was frightened for her life there,so scared that oneday she jumped out of a window trying to escape broke both her arms.....THUS she must be insane moved to a lunatc asylum. Never heard of again............................................................... I have been searching for over a year no trace of what happened to her..so Greatgran Louisa sorry i couldnt find you xxx Thanks for reading this,had to write it before its forgotton again,i found out a year ago,only one family member knew,nearly lost forever.