b.1847-d.1914
When Robert Henry Northmore died in Horton Asylum in 1914 at the age of 67 he had spent almost half of his life in mental health institutions.
Robert Henry’s parents
Robert Henry was the son of shoemaker Robert Northmore and his wife Elizabeth (née Parsons) who were married in Stoke Damerel in Plymouth, Devon, in the 2nd quarter of 1839. He was a native of Plymouth, the son of Richard and Elizabeth Northmore and was baptised in the village of Newton Ferrers, Devon, on the 6th of February, 1820. From later censuses we learn that his wife Elizabeth was born in St Luke’s, Middlesex, in about 1816 but it has not been able to confirm any further details about her background.
A growing family – and a tragic death
We do not know how, when or where the couple met but, in the 1841 Census, we find them living in St Mary Axe in the City of London. Robert, aged just 20, is employed as a shoemaker.
The following year, on the 20th of January 1842, Elizabeth gave birth to the couple’s first child, a son called Edwin. He was followed, in the 4th quarter of 1844, by twins Charles and Alfred. Sadly, Alfred died in the 3rd quarter of 1845 before reaching his first birthday. Our subject, Robert Henry, was born in the 3rd quarter of 1847.
A new home – and the birth of a daughter
By the time of the 1851 Census the family had moved to 63, King Street in Soho. Robert is again described as a shoemaker and 9 year-old Edwin is working as an errand boy. Later that year, in the 2nd quarter of 1852, Elizabeth gave birth to her only daughter, Emma Susanna. On the 30th of May that year, Emma Susanna, Charles and Edwin – but, strangely, not Robert Henry – were all baptised in St Peter’s Church in Palace Street. It has not been possible to find a baptismal certificate for Robert Henry.
The 1860s – and another family tragedy
In the 1861 Census the family is still living in King Street. Edwin is now employed as a ‘printer compositor’ (someone who assembled moveable type and blocks to form a page for printing) and Charles is described as a ‘law stationer’ (someone who dealt in paper, forms and other stationer’s supplies used by lawyers). Our 13 year-old subject, Robert Henry is still at school.
Tragedy would hit the family in the 1st quarter of 1866, when Charles died, aged just 21. On the 20th of August 1870, Edwin left the family home to marry Margaret Murphy in Old Church, St Pancras.
The 1870s – employed as a printer compositor
In the 1871 Census we find Robert, Elizabeth, Robert Henry and Emma living at 45, King Street in Soho. Robert Henry, like his older brother Edwin, is employed as a printer compositor and Emma is working as a waistcoat maker. There is no indication as yet of the mental health problems that would dominate the second half of Robert Henry’s life.
The death of Robert’s father – and the onset of his mental health problems
On December 9th 1875 Robert’s father died at home. There is a probate record for him, leaving effects under £300 to Elizabeth of 45 King Street.
On the 13th of February 1876 Emma married pianoforte maker John Sandon at St James’s, Piccadilly. By the time of the 1881 Census, Robert Henry and his mother Elizabeth were living alone at 45, King Street and it is at this point that Robert Henry’s life begins to unravel.
On the 15th of July 1881, not long after the census was taken, Robert was admitted to Westminster Union Workhouse ‘from police’. One assumes this means following an incident brought about by a mental disorder. Rober’s admission was noted in the Westminster Register of Lunatics but in the column headed ‘Length of time of unsound mind’ is written the word ‘unknown’. Robert remained in the Workhouse until the 23rd of July when he was transferred to Hanwell Asylum.
Robert’s mother Elizabeth died in the 4th quarter of 1881. In her 66 years she had lost her husband and two sons and seen another son admitted to an asylum.
From Hanwell to Bristol – and Robert’s death in Horton
Robert would be a patient at Hanwell for sixteen years. Unfortunately, we have no information regarding the nature or severity of his mental illness or the treatment he received.
On the 1st of July 1897 Robert was transferred to Bristol Asylum where he would remain until the 27th of September 1902. He was then admitted to Horton Asylum where he would spend the rest of his life.
We find Robert in the 1911 Census for Horton, aged 64 years, given as a single compositor. He died on the 12th of May 1914 aged 66. He was buried in Horton Cemetery on the 18th of May 1914 in grave 1035b.
Robert Henry’s siblings
Edwin and Margaret had two sons together, Robert and Charles. Edwin died in the 4th quarter of 1901 aged 60.
Emma and John had five children together, John, Edith, Maud, Olive and Jessie. Emma was widowed on the 24th of October 1899 and died on the 8th of December 1904 aged 53.