Ethel May AKERS

Ethel May AKERS

Ethel died 01/06/1920 in Long Grove at only 28. She is buried in grave 64a at Horton Cemetery.

Ethel May has been quite a challenge! She was recorded as 28 when she died in Long Grove in 1920 BUT several records at first suggest she might well have been older. In the 1916 record she is ‘alleged insane’, in the 1917 and the 1918 records she is described as having ‘senile debility’. Really? – in her 20s?  In view of her age, I wondered if she was suffering what would now be diagnosed as a post-natal illness. If it really was senile dementia, then how old was she?

Ethel’s Death Certificate

The certificate states: Of 47 Gibbon Road, Nunnhead SE15

Wife of Henry James Akers, taxi-cab driver of 39 Talfourd Road, Peckham rd Camberwell

Her cause of death as:

1. epilepsy
2. status epilepticus of 24 hours.

The Epilepsy Foundation explains:

“Over the last several decades, the length of a seizure that is considered as status epilepticus has shortened. It is now defined as any seizure lasting more than 5 minutes. Very long seizures (those lasting 30 minutes or longer) are dangerous and even increase the risk of death. Therefore, it is important to recognize status epilepticus, so it can be treated before the risk of harm increases.”

In the 1920s it must have been much more dangerous to suffer epileptic seizures  and the after effects would not have been understood. Hence Ethel’s seemingly unusual diagnosis at such a young age.

In Search of Ethel

Records show she spent 1916 to 1918 in and out of Constance Road workhouse – one recorded her being discharged to the care of her husband and named him.  In 1916, she was noted as ‘wife of Albert M, a soldier’. This fact is supported by the fact that, at one time, her maintenance was reduced by a contribution from the War Pensions Committee in that year. I still thought it more likely than not, in view of her age, and recent childbearing that she had post-natal psychosis.

[AI: It is historically highly likely that a 28-year-old woman in 1916 presenting with acute confusion and behavioural changes after childbirth was misdiagnosed with “dementia” when she was actually experiencing postpartum psychosis ]

If she was married, what was her maiden name? I managed to find Albert James Akers’ military enlistment record which gave me the year and place of their marriage and named his wife and children. Having found Ethel’s record in several institutions, and in view of her youth, I searched for her children and found both births.   Hooray-progress backwards!

The 1921 Census

In the 1921 Census Albert James, a widower,  was boarding and a cab driver. Where were the boys?  Both in a care facility – as patients – mother noted as ‘dead’. It must have been hard for a recently bereaved Albert with two young and ill sons.

I wonder if Albert  visited Ethel in the various institutions? Maybe in London but possibly not in Long Grove.

An online tree suggests Albert was married several times – once before Ethel and twice after her death but I have not pursued this. The 1939 Register shows he remarried at least once – at that time he was still driving a cab.

As an afterthought, the same  online tree states – which I have not cross referenced – Alfred James married and was living in Croydon in 1939,  but at some time moving to Wales where  he, his wife and father all died. Maybe he had a happy life after losing his mother so young.

Thomas Henry died in Greenwich, London in 1993.

GRO record:

{When a British Army World War I enrolment or service record states a soldier married at “RO Southwark” in 1912, it means he officially declared a civil marriage took place)

adjudication specifically means the legal process used by magistrates or Poor Law authorities to officially determine a pauper’s or “pauper lunatic’s” place of settlement (their home parish legally responsible for paying the costs of their care and maintenance).   Southwark, Camberwell, Constance road workhouse.

I found a birth which matches some notes in the Army record of Albert

1921 census shows Thomas Henry Akers in Children’s ward at Children’s Infirmary, 47A Cleveland Street, W1, St Pancras, London & Middlesex. The 1921 census also records Ethel’s other son as an inmate at London Parish Schools West Norwood.

Albert was alone.

1939 register Camberwell Road, Camberwell.