Agnes JARMAN
Early life
Agnes Stockbridge was born on 6 October 1861 in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire. She was the fourth child of William Stockbridge, a road labourer, and his wife Emily Shambrook.
The Stockbridges (one of several Stockbridge families in the town) lived in Dolphin Lane, Melbourn.
Agnes’ older siblings were Harriet, Charles and Charlotte. Before their father died in 1868, three more brothers were born: twins Frederick (Freddy) and William (Willy), and Arthur. Another brother, Horace, was born in 1872.
In the 1881 census Agnes, now 19, was head of the Stockbridge household in Dolphin Lane, looking after her younger brothers William, Arthur, and Horace. Their mother Emily was away working as a servant in Cambridge.
Marriage, and children
In 1885 Agnes married William Jarman (who seems also to have been known as John Jarman), and a son, Harry, was born in 1886.
By 1891, Agnes, William and son Harry had moved to south London and were living in rooms at 12 Hillery Road, Newington. Also in rooms at that address were William’s sister Harriet and her husband, Charles Grant, and William’s brother Joseph. William was working as a carman.
A second child, Violet Maud, was born in 1892.
Insanity
The onset of Agnes’ mental illness seems to have been fairly sudden. When she was taken into the infirmary at Newington workhouse in August 1899, her husband said the attack had started just a few weeks earlier.
Agnes was examined by the medical officer and found to be of unsound mind.
“She does not know the day of the week, nor the date of the month, nor how long she has been here, she is dull & depressed. Speaks slowly, and her tongue and lips are tremulous; her replies to questions are often incoherent.”
She was removed to the newly opened Manor asylum, where she died 6 years later, on 2nd March 1906, from “General Paralysis of the Insane” . Her funeral at Horton was attended by her husband, her children, her sister Harriet Lee, and her sister-in-law Isabella Stockbridge (Charles’ wife).
Visitors
According to the Manor records, Agnes had just two visits from her husband, in 1899 and 1903. She also had occasional visits from her brothers Freddy and Arthur and her sister Harriet.