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b. 1846-d.1908
With many stories, it is a case of perseverance, gleaning records for cross-matching details. That was the case with Louisa Sarah Fox Oliver, for whom many details remain elusive.
Louisa’s Siblings
In 1891, Louisa Oliver was living at 10 Penrhyn St, St Pancras, London. She was a widow from Manchester, Lancashire, aged 45, working as a dressmaker. This would place her birth as being about 1846. Her brother, William Fox, stated aged 31 years, is with her, single and working as a stationer’s assistant. Her sisters, Adelaide and Alice Fox, aged 25 and 24 years respectively, are also single and dressmakers. All were born in Manchester.
It has proved difficult to identify parents for the siblings or any clear evidence of their births in Manchester, with various hopeful leads going nowhere. These details may surface in time.
It has not proved possible to find her marriage so far but we know she was a widow by 1891.
Louisa’s First Admission to Asylum
On January 14th 1898, Louisa was admitted to Fisherton Asylum, as a pauper lunatic, on the basis that the London asylums were full. She was of unsound mind.
Her address at the time was 3 Rochester Place, Kings Road, Camden, London ,NW.
She was a mantle finisher. Her brother William Fox was named, living at 9 College Place, Camden Town, London.
She had not previously been under any care and her age is given as 66 years old which would have suggested she was born around 1832/1833, but the census of 1891 contradicts this.
Louisa’s Health on Entry
On the day of admission, she had been examined at St. Pancras Workhouse. The cause of her admission was her first recorded attack. The file states: “She says the yard was full of policemen last night. They wanted to come into my room but I would not let them. I hear voices here; they tell me the things that transpire. The landlord allowed them to come in for immoral purposes with me.”
Her sister Adelaide stated that her sister declared people were on the roof of the house annoying her. Her landlady stated that Louisa declares she is a ‘relation of mine’ (which is untrue) and that she is also related to the Queen; at times, she is the Queen. When Louisa lost her key and because her landlady would not let her in, Louisa smashed the windows.
While her physical health at the time of her admission was noted as fair, her mental condition was noted as follows: Louisa “has aural hallucinations of voices calling her the most diabolical names and abusing her though she has done everything she could for them and has no more to give them.”
Transfer to Horton Asylum
Louisa Sarah Fox Oliver was admitted from Fisherton to Horton Asylum on 8 September 1899. At the time of her admission, she was 66 years old and is listed as a widow. Her occupation was a mantle finisher.
Her family
In 1901, all three siblings were living together in 15 St Platt St. St Pancras. William is recorded as born in 1867 and is aged 34 years, a mismatch to the 1891 evidence. Yet he was still a stationer’s assistant. Alice was then a milliner.
Deteriorating Health
The progress of her case is documented approximately every three months and generally repeats the same comments. Those comments being that she hears voices, does not improve and is often loud and abusive. Her physical health remains fair.
In March 1903, it was noted that she “says that everyone blames her and is afraid of being killed.”
On 14 July 1904, the case file records that Louisa has had a stroke and is suffering from paralysis. By August 25th she was partially recovered. In December of 1904, the file stated that Louisa had dementia and was vacant. She still suffered from the aural hallucinations.
By August 1906, there was no change in her mental state, but her physical health was now documented as poor. She became bed-ridden in December of that year and by August 1907, needed to have everything done for her. In November 1907, it was noted that she had no idea of the time or place.
On 1 April 1908, she began her final decline, and it was noted that she was in an extremely feeble condition and was scarcely able to swallow.
By 4 April, she was much worse. Louisa passed away at 6:35pm on 5 April 1908, her age stated as 76 years. We know that she was more likely about 62 years old.
The cause of her death was recorded as senile decay and atrophy of the brain.
