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b.1877-d.1911
This story also includes details of Flora Jean Samson, Hugh’s sister, born April 1888. She was born in April 1888 and died 11 December 1934. She was buried in Horton Cemetery 15 December 1934. Grave 1269b.
A violent young man who thought he was the Son of God
On 29 July 1900 Hugh Sampson was admitted to Vanbrugh Hill Infirmary in Greenwich as a “Police Case”. Amongst the Settlement and Relief documents for Vanbrugh Infirmary I found details of his Reception Order:
He was described as a single man aged 23 years old. His occupation was that of a clerk and this is thought to be his first attack which had persisted for two weeks. He was considered a danger to others as he struck out, kicked and bit the attendants. Luckily, the medical examination included details of his brother, a Robert Ritchie Sampson living at Prices Avenue, Cliftonville in Margate, Kent.
Hugh was detained on grounds of Religious Mania.
The identification of his brother and the fact that Hugh Sampson, or in this case Samson, appears to be a slightly unusual name meant tracing him was not too difficult.
I will return to the findings of the medical profession later but I can now tell you about Hugh’s life up to this point.
Hugh’s parents
Hugh was named after his father, Hugh Samson, who was born in Riccarton near Kilmarnock in Scotland in 1842. His grandparents were John Samson and Isabella Bertram. John Samson appears to have worked as an engine keeper at Caprington Colliery all his working life. So, in turn, their son, Hugh Samson senior became an engine smith’s apprentice as recorded in the 1861 Census. At this time, aged 18, was living with his parents and his younger sister Agnes aged 16.
1870s
By the time of the 1871 Census, Hugh senior had moved to London and was lodging at the home of Thomas Wells, in Plumstead. His job is described as that of a mechanic.
By the beginning of 1873 Hugh was living with Ann Daly or Daley whom he would eventually marry, in 1880. Little is known about Ann Daly other than her father was Daniel Daly who was a decorator. She was born in London about 1850.
Before Hugh and Ann married, the couple had the following children.
- Julia Ann L, given surname of Samson, was born in the September quarter of 1873 in Woolwich
- Esther, given surname Daley, was born December quarter 1874 in Woolwich
- Hugh, given surname Samson, was born 7 May 1877 at 28 Mount Street in Woolwich
John Walter, given surname Samson, was born September quarter 1879 in Woolwich
Hugh senior and Ann marry
The couple may have married on 25 September 1880 at St James’s church in Sussex Gardens in Paddington. Possibly, they might have married here so that no one in Woolwich would find out. Hugh senior stated his address was 24, Bathurst Street and Ann gave hers as 1 Stanhope Street. It is unclear what connection the couple had with these addresses in the Paddington area. The area was very affluent. The witnesses were a Gabriel Wingate and an Annie Morgan. Ann’s father was stated to be Daniel Daly, who was a decorator.
1881 Census
So, by the time of the 1881 Census the couple were living at 3 Chapel Street by Woolwich Dockyard. The household record included Hugh, aged 38, working as a fitter from Scotland and Ann, his wife aged 31 from Essex.
The children were listed as Julia A L aged 7, Esther aged 5, John W aged 2 and Robert aged 2 months. They were the sole occupiers of this house. Where was Hugh? I have been unable to find him in the 1881 Census.
During the next 10 years the couple went on to have another 5 children:
Isabella Bertram born June quarter 1882 in Woolwich; Agnes Ritchie born June quarter 1884 in Woolwich; Flora Jean born June quarter 1886 in Woolwich; Margaret Alice born March quarter 1888 in Woolwich
1890s
Donald Eugene born March quarter 1890 in Woolwich
The 1891 census shows them living at 1 Winns Cottages on Plumstead Common.
Winns Common Swimming lakes in 1880.
The household is listed as Hugh aged 48 working as an Iron Turner, Wife Ann aged 40. The children Esther aged 16, Hugh aged 13, John W aged 11, Robert aged 10, Isabella aged 9, Agnes aged 7, Flora aged 5, Margaret aged 3 and Donald aged 1. The family had the property to themselves.
Tragedy struck the family in March 1895 when this sad announcement can be found in the Kentish Independent, dated 26 January 1895.
Article courtesy of British Newspaper Archives
Ann died leaving her husband with 3 children under the age of 10. The announcement in the paper shows the family were living at 12 Heathfield Terrace in Plumstead. According to the Electoral Registers they would remain there until 1899, when Hugh senior moved to 20 Bassant Road in Plumstead. It is unclear who moved with him.
The years 1900 to 1911
3 March 1900
On this date Hugh senior died at Guy’s Hospital aged 58. 
Hugh Samson’s senior’s death certificate indicates that he died of tuberculosis at Guys Hospital, where his son Hugh (our subject) was present at the death.
The administration of his effects worth £33 and 4 shillings (worth about £3,400 in 2024) were passed to his eldest son Hugh.
Hugh junior’s occupation is given as an examiner at the Royal Arsenal Woolwich. It seems at this time Hugh was considered well enough to have this responsibility.
The Woolwich Arsenal in the early 1900s. This would have been Hugh’s world.
1900 – A downturn in Hugh’s health
Hugh started to become unwell in 1900 when his mania manifested itself.
29 July 1900
Hugh was admitted to Vanburgh Hill Infirmary in Greenwich. He was brought in by Police Constable 342R. So, presumably Hugh’s behaviour in public must have been causing concern.
7 August 1900
Hugh is examined by the medical professionals – their observations are below.
Hugh is found on examination to be reasonably physically fit. His heart and lungs are normal. He had four old scars of cuts on his head and a few abrasions and bruises on his body and one deformed toe on both feet. He was also sporting 3 tattoos on his left forearm.
He is certified by Walter C S Burney a Medical Practitioner who observed,
“He is very excited, violent and noisy. He says he is the Son of God and that he has great strength and is continually talking with God and can cure any disease he wishes. He is very destructive. He was put in the padded room on account of his violence”.
Others observed
“His attendant – John Head states he is very violent – strikes, bites and kicks the attendants. He has very exalted ideas. Says he is the Son of God and he can cure any disease he wishes; he will not converse correctly when spoken to – does not sleep at night”.
9 August 1900
Hugh was sent to Cane Hill Asylum in Coulsdon, Surrey. Described as a person of an unsound mind. There is a note to say he was removed to Cane Hill dressed in infirmary clothing.
3 October 1900
Donald Eugene Samson, (Hugh’s youngest brother), was admitted to Brighton Road Poor Law School.
1901 Census
Trying to track down the whereabouts of the Samson family has proved difficult. Julia and Esther, who were Hugh’s eldest sisters, I have been unable to trace. Hugh can be found aged 21 and a patient at Cane Hill. I have yet to find the whereabouts of John Walter, Robert Ritchie, Isabella and Agnes.
Flora Jean aged 16 is at St Agnes’s Home for Cripple Girls and Children in Wellesley Road, Croydon where she is training to be a Housemaid. The age range of the girls seems to be between 5 and 20 years old and there are 18 inmates. In 1897, The Waifs and Strays Society took over the running of this home and in October 1900 it moved to 7 Wellesley Road. The girls were taught handicrafts and skills to enable them to become more independent in adult life.
Just prior to the census, on March 16th 1901, Flora was baptised at St John’s Church in Croydon.
Margaret aged 11 is living with her paternal aunt Agnes Ritchie at Rectory Road, Rickmansworth.
Finally, Donald is an inmate at the Poor Law School in Banstead Road in Sutton, Surrey. The family are spread far and wide around London.
1902
On 29th March 1902, Donald was moved to the Goldie Leigh Children’s Cottage Homes. These homes had been opened by Woolwich Union in that year. 
His sister Isabella is named as his nearest relative from Bassant Road.
Between June and September 1902 Isabella married Ernest Bosomworth in the Medway area in Kent and she then disappeared from view.
1903- Hugh moves to Cane Hill
On 8 June 1903 the UK Lunacy Register shows Hugh left Cane Hill but his condition had not improved. Where he went in the intervening four years before he was sent to Long Grove is unclear as I cannot find another entry in the register to fill the gap. I assume he must have been sent to another asylum but in the absence of records it is hard to say.
26 August
Donald was admitted to Vanburgh Infirmary from the Goldie Leigh Cottage Home.
31 August
Donald is returned aged 13 back to Goldie Leigh Cottage Home. It states his religion is Baptist which is the first indication that the family may have been non conformists. His closest relative is said to be “Florence” who is probably Flora. Her given address was “Addiscombe” at 29 Outram Road in Croydon. Flora was training to be a housemaid and on 15th August the occupants of this address did indeed advertise for a Housemaid according to newspaper advertisements.
6 December
Donald was baptised into the Church of England at St Margaret’s church in Plumstead. Only his mother’s name was given.
1905
On 24 October Donald left the Goldie Leigh Cottage Home aged 15 ½ years. The Poor Law notes seem to suggest he went first to the Workhouse Home at 29 Whiteheads Home in Chelsea but there is another note which suggests he went into service.
Admission to Long Grove
On 28 June 1907 Hugh was admitted to Long Grove clearly still unwell. He stayed in Long Grove until his death on 30 January 1911.
Hugh fell victim to Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Tuberculosis Enteritis. Tuberculosis was sadly highly contagious and many patients of the asylum died of the disease and its complications. Hugh was just one of many.
He was buried on 2 February 1911 in Grave 1087b in Horton Cemetery.
Hugh’s siblings
The siblings have been frustratingly hard to trace and in fact some of them just seem to have disappeared completely. After their father’s death in 1900 most of them cannot be traced. In the 1901 census only Hugh, Flora, Margaret and Donald can be traced.
I can find no trace of Julia after 1881. Esther disappears after 1891. I may have found John Walter in 1911 as a visitor at 79 Whitfield Street in St Pancras working as a servant but I have no further sightings of him.
Robert Ritchie, according to Hugh’s admission notes, was living in Cliftonville in Margate, Kent in 1900. Again, no trace in the 1901 census or that of 1911. There are Medal Cards for a Robert R Samson that may relate to our man which would mean he served in World War 1.
Robert married Maud Porter on 28 June 1919 in Essex. The 1921 census shows he was living at 23 Northumberland Ave, Manor Park in Wanstead. He was working as a Merchants Provision Buyer for Peter Keevil and Sons. Maud his wife aged 28 was at home and their young son Robert Derrick aged only 5 weeks. There was also an Eliza Diggins living with them who was employed as a servant.
By the time of the start of World War 2 Robert and Maud are living in Sussex. Robert was a Butter and Cheese buyer and Exporter. Robert, their son aged 21, was a student. After that date Robert disappears and I have been unable to trace his date of death with any certainty.
Isabella Betram Samson was still living in Bassant Road in Plumstead in March 1902 if Donald Samson’s admission notes are to be believed. And as stated earlier Isabella disappears after her marriage in 1902.
Agnes Ritchie Samson can only be found on the 1891 Census and then she disappears.
Flora Jean Samson after being found in the 1901 census can only be found in a footnote on her brother Donald’s poor law records. A note dated 31 Aug 1903 states her to be Donalds nearest relative living at Addiscombe, 29 Outram Road in Croydon.
Flora then disappears from the census returns until we find her death on 11 December 1934. Flora had become a patient at West Park Hospital in Epsom and is buried in Horton Cemetery in grave number 1269b.
Margaret Alice after being found living with her Aunt Agnes Ritchie in 1901 disappeared for 14 years, only to surface when on 15 November 1915. Agnes died and on 3 December probate was granted to Margaret. Effects were valued at £371 17s 2d. Six years on and Margaret can be found in the 1921 census living at 69 Uxbridge Road. She has no occupation.
Donald Eugene after spending time in care seems to have carved out a living for himself working in dentistry. On 1 May 1915 he married May Viola Barratt and shortly after on 15 December 1915 he signed up and joined the Army.
His given occupation was that of an Operating Dental Mechanic. However, from the newspaper article above from the West Surrey Times dated 19 May 1916 he did not actually join the forces until August 1916. His military records describe him as having a good, reliable character but his time in Egypt shows he was dangerously ill with Dysentery and he was lucky to survive.
In 1921 Donald was living at 7 Broadwater Estate near Guildford with his wife May and Donald his 5-year-old son and daughter Jean aged 4. Donald senior is working as a Dental Mechanic for Hall Freeman Dentistry in Farnham. In 1922 his third child, a boy was born and he was named Hugh after his brother and father.
Donald appears in the Dentists Register of 1925 registered on 14 August 1922. It seems he has qualified as a Dentist – his address was given as 93 Maple Road, Penge, London SE20 but I can find no further connection with this address.
However, Donald’s mental health must have taken a turn for the worse as in 1939 he was a patient at Netherne Mental Hospital in Surrey described as incapacitated. In January 1942 Donald died aged 52.
Aunt Agnes Samson Ritchie
Agnes was Hugh’s paternal Aunt and I investigated her life as I knew by 1901 she was looking after her niece Margaret. Could she have been involved with the family earlier on?
Agnes was 2 years younger than her brother and lived in Riccarton in Ayrshire at least until her marriage to Robert Ritchie on 23 March 1875. I then had some difficulty in tracing her as there are quite a few Agnes and Robert Ritchie’s appearing in the census but after a lot of searching I was able to locate Robert. He was born in London of Scottish parents but lived in Riccarton with his grandmother in 1861 and then in Kilmarnock. Robert was 10 years younger than his bride.
In 1881 Robert and Agnes were found living at 5 Brighton Road in Finsbury. Agnes is incorrectly recorded as Anne and her age as 25. She was in fact 36. Living with the couple were Robert’s unmarried sisters Margaret aged 27 and Alice aged 18. Robert’s youngest sister Annie aged 14 was living with Agnes’s parents in Scotland. The electoral registers show the Ritchie couple lived at 5 Brighton Road until 1883.
The couple cannot be found in the 1891 census returns and by 1901 Agnes states she is a widow and living off her own means which suggests Robert may have left her some kind of income. He worked as a Commercial Clerk so it is possible. I have not been able to successfully find details of Robert’s death.
Despite my search it appears that the only link Aunt Agnes had to the family was through Margaret Samson.
Authors Thoughts
Finding Hugh was not difficult but finding his wider family was very frustrating. Very few baptisms were found which led me to believe they may have been non conformists. Indeed, Donald is stated to be a Baptist at one point and both Donald and Flora were baptised in the Church of England when they were in care. Some of Hugh’s siblings seem to have been born and then completely disappear. Isabella married and then disappeared. Whilst it is not uncommon for individuals to be lost, there is a high incidence in this family.
Hugh seems to have had a stable background. His father was in employment and had a good job and they lived in reasonable accommodation. Hugh junior had a good job but when his father died in 1900, he seems to have experienced some awful trauma that led to his behaviour becoming dangerously unacceptable. He is described as having religious mania and being violent. He seemed to have little support as they were either too young, incapacitated or just not there. However, from the medical report it seems as if Hugh was a danger to himself and others so even if the family were there for him there was little they could do to help.
Flora seems to have had some kind of disability and it is noted that Hugh had a deformed toe on each foot. Was there some kind of genetic disorder? Flora also had mental health issues and died in 1934 and was even buried at Horton Cemetery not that far from her brother. Donald also ended up in the care of a mental hospital. Whether this is related is impossible to tell.
I cannot help but feel sorry for this young man who had some kind of psychotic episode that led to him spending a third of his life in institutions. Indeed, the very nature of his confinement led him to catch a deadly disease which cost him his life.
