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b.1870-d.1919
He was born in the March quarter of 1870, in Bridgend, Wales (reference 11a 483).
In the 1871 Census, at an unnumbered house in Church Street, Midhurst Sussex present were William A. Austin, head aged 64. He was a schoolmaster born Carshalton, Surrey. His wife, Eliza, aged 69 was a school mistress born Chatham, Kent and Thomas G, his son aged 33 was a cabinet maker born 1838 in West Chiltington, Sussex.
Also at the address were Rosanna aged 25, his daughter-in-law was born Wantage, Hertfordshire, and his grandchildren, William George aged 5 was born in Brixham Devon, Martha Elizabeth aged 3 was born in Reading and Percy aged 1 was born in Bridgend, Glamorganshire.
Comment: I could not find a record of a marriage for Percy’s parents.
1880s
In the 1881 Census, at 22 Thomas Street, Tonbridge, Kent were Rosanna Austin, wife aged 35 born Wantage, Berkshire, and her children, Martha E. aged 13 born Reading, Percy J. aged 11 born Bridgend, Edith R. aged 8, Elizabeth S. aged 7 born Slough and James W. aged 4 born Tunbridge.
At 11, Ashford Square, Eastbourne lodging with Henry Pratt and his family was Thomas G. Austin aged 43, a cabinet maker born West Chiltington.
Percy’s mother Rosanna died in the March quarter of 1885 aged 39 (born 1846). (reference Maidstone 2a 488).
In the 1891 Census, at 4 Victoria Street, Bristol were, William G. Austin head aged 25 a furniture salesman born in Brixham, Lizzie his wife aged 28 born London and Olive C. their daughter aged 3 born Tottenham. Also were William H. son aged 1 born London, Edith R. sister aged 18 born Lewes, James W. brother aged 14 born Tunbridge Wells, and Mabel V. sister agd 12 born Tunbridge Wells.
Percy’s father Thomas George Austin died in the March quarter of 1889 (reference Tunbridge 2a 403).
To the Workhouse
The Poor Law and Board of Guardians Records for St. Pancras recorded that on 5 July 1899, Percy John Austin, born 1871, a clerk living at 36, Fitzroy Square was admitted to the Workhouse. His religion was recorded as Church of England.
The Lunacy Patients Admissions Register (LPAR) recorded that on 11 July 1899 Percy John Austin was admitted to ‘Exeter’. He was discharged on 14 January 1904 marked ‘not improved’.
Comment: The Exeter City Asylum, known as Digby Hospital, was opened in 1869 and closed in 1987.
The LPAR recorded that he was admitted to ‘West Sussex’ on 14 January 1904 and discharged again on 17 February 1904, marked as “not improved”.
Comment: The West Sussex County Asylum, known as Graylingwell Hospital, was opened in 1897 and closed in 2003. It was in Chichester, West Sussex.
The Board of Guardians for St. Pancras has a record of ‘Lunatics in various asylums’. The record has a page headed Long Grove. It records that Percy John Austin born 1871 aged 37 was admitted on 17 February 1908. Next is recorded ‘Chichester’ and the final record states ‘Ceased to be chargeable 24 March 1919, died’.
Comment: I think the record refers to the fact that the St. Pancras Board of Guardians paid for his stay in Long Grove.
Percy John Austin was admitted to Long Grove Asylum on 17 February 1908 and died there on 24 March 1919.
His death was registered in the June quarter of 1919, reference Epsom 2a 38.
