James George EALES
JAMES GEORGE EALES
James was born on 28 June 1886 in Chelsea, London, to George Thomas EALES and Ellen (Nellie) nee GIBSON. He was baptised at St Paul’s, Onslow Square, Kensington on 8 July 1888, together with his sister Maud Beatrice EALES (born 1887).
In the 1891 Census James was a patient in Darenth Asylum & School. His age was shown as 9 but he would have been about 5 so it seems his parents struggled to look after him at home.
In the 1901 Census, at age 16, James was shown as a servant (kitchen boy) in Witney St Mary, Oxfordshire. His parents were still living in Chelsea at the time so James must have lived close to or where he was employed. It seems that the place was some sort of asylum as residents were categorised ‘deaf & dumb, blind, lunatic, imbecile, feeble minded’. James, however, was not listed as such.
James was admitted to Manor Asylum on 4 August 1904 aged 18 and stayed there until August 1916 when he was moved to Long Grove when Manor was requisitioned as a war hospital. He returned to the Manor in November 1919 then was transferred to Horton Mental Hospital on 31 December 1921. Written records of the time show that he was childish in his behaviour and required supervision but was generally in fair health. He was employed in the grounds for much of the time.
On admission to Manor Asylum the following was recorded about him by C. H. Bennett:
MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
(a) Facts indicating Insanity observed by myself at time of Examination, viz:-
He has a hydrocephalic head. His appearance is that of a feeble minded boy. He is intellectually deficient. He says that he is 18 years old and that the present year is 1904 but he cannot tell in what year he was born. He is slow in answering questions and seems very stupid. Nelly Eales, 25c Bullow Road, Fulham, SW, his mother, says he is vicious and bad tempered. If at all put out by the other children he loses control of himself and attacks them viciously. His memory is very bad so that he cannot be trusted to go on errands. He got up at 3am one morning, 2 or 3 months ago, filled the grate with paper and set light to it causing the chimney to catch fire.
His physical appearance was recorded as:
‘Undersized lad with hydrocephalic head; appearance dull and vacant. Black hair, black eyes. Pupils equal and react for light and accom?’
Tongue clean, skin clear. Muscularity fair. Reflexes present. Heart and lungs normal.
There are 3 recent vacctn (vaccination) marks on left arm.
Curvature of spine; right genu valgum (knock knee).
Rickety chest with prow shaped sternum and marked depression over 4th to 8th ribs on left side around nipple.
Head full of vermin.’
His mental assessment states:
‘Patient answers questions in a very slow and stupid manner; has no memory and does not know day or time of year.’
His history states that his first attack was congenital, meaning it was present from birth.
The Medical Certificate shows how difficult and dangerous not only James’ life was, but also that of his parents and siblings. I assume his parents felt they had no choice but to seek alternative living arrangements for James as, by the time he entered Manor Asylum, he was 18 years old.
The visitor’s book for Manor Asylum shows that his mother and father visited him about a dozen times until 1921 and a sister (not named) also visited him in 1921. There is no record of a visitor’s book at Horton Mental Hospital.
James died in 1954 aged 68.
JAMES’S PARENTS
James’ parents George Thomas EALES and Ellen (Nellie) GIBSON were married on 25 December 1884 at St Jude, Chelsea. Their ages stated at the time were 21 and 20 respectively, although my research shows George being born in 1867, which would have made him 17 years old at the marriage. Nellie was born in 1864 so she was about 3 years older than George. Their first child was born less than a month after they married. At the time of the marriage George’s occupation was a Labourer. George died aged 55 in March 1922 and Nellie in 1955 aged 91.
George and Nellie had 10 children between 1885 and 1903 and James was the second eldest.
JAMES’ SIBLINGS
Lily Nellie Louisa EALES was born 19 January 1885 in Chelsea. Lily married William George CHARLES Q3 1911 in Fulham, London. William CHARLES was born in Fulham in 1884. He went to the U.S. in 1909 as a labourer but must have returned home for the marriage. Lily sailed to Canada in August 1911 to be with her husband. She is also recorded as returning from the U.S. to Liverpool in 1916, perhaps for a visit home.
In 1917 Lily travelled from Liverpool to New York when she was aged 31, together with her son, Harry EALES aged 4. She arrived in the U.S. on 17 January 1917, the recorded reason was because her husband was there. She arrived with $12.00.
In the 1920 U.S. Census Lily is shown as living in Michigan with her husband William and son Harry, aged 7. Their race is shown as White, which is an indication of attitudes to race at the time.
Sadly William died in 1926 aged 41 from a cerebral haemorrhage. Lily is then recorded as crossing from the U.S. to Ontario, Canada in 1927 but it’s not clear whether that was to live there.
Maud Beatrice EALES was born in October 1887 and died in October 1914 aged 27. I have been unable to find any other information for Maud.
Nellie EALES was born in March 1889. In the 1921 Census she was single and aged 30, living with her parents. She was working as a kitchen hand at the Board of Trade, Cromwell Road, London SW. Nellie died in November 1967 aged about 78.
Minnie May EALES was born in Q1 of 1891. Sadly Minnie died as a child in 1897 in Fulham.
In the 1891 Census George Snr’s occupation was an Ironmonger’s Porter and he was living with his wife and children Lily, Maud, Nellie and Minnie. James was already in an Asylum.
Sydney Alfred EALES was born in April 1894. He married Gladys THUMWOOD in July 1918. Sydney served as a Gunner in the British Army Royal Artillery from June 1915 to September 1917 and was wounded in action. He was awarded the Silver War Badge, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Sydney and Gladys had a son, also called Sydney, born in June 1919. Gladys sailed from Southampton to New York on 13 December 1920 with Sydney Jr, then aged one. Records show she went as her husband was already there.
Sydney died in 1966 in Chelsea aged 72.
George Thomas EALES Jnr was born in October 1896 in Fulham. He married Evelyn CREEK on 11 December 1915 at St Jude’s, Grays Inn Road, London. George served in the Royal Sussex Regiment as a Company Sergeant Major during WW1 and was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914 Star. In 1923 he sailed from Liverpool to Canada, recorded as a returning cattleman. In 1934 he crossed from the US to Canada to visit his sister. His occupation was recorded as a Paper Hanger. George died in 1955 in St Joseph’s Hospice, Hackney aged 58.
Ethel May EALES was born on 26 April 1898 in Fulham. Ethel married Edward TAYLOR in 1930. In the 1921 Census her occupation was recorded as Press Hand at Crown Cork Works. I have been unable to find any more information for her.
John Thomas EALES was born on 7 October 1900 in Fulham and died on 4 July 1995 in the same place. John was in the Royal Navy from 1929 to 1933 and served on 8 ships. The 1921 Census shows his occupation as Able Seaman in HM Navy, aged 20. The1939 England & Wales Register recorded him as a Painter, Builder and Decorator. I have been unable to find a marriage for John.
William Frederick EALES was born on 10 June 1903, The 1921 Census shows his occupation as a Newsboy (own account) aged 18. William served in the Labour Corps in WW1 and was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. The 1939 England & Wales Register shows him working as a Labourer, Gas L & C Co. William died on 9 March 1965 in the River Thames in Twickenham aged about 62. He left his estate to his brother John. I haven’t been able to find any other information on him.
So it seems likely that Lily went to America in 1911 to live with her husband William and her brother Sydney and his wife Gladys visited her there in 1920. Her brother George also visited her in 1923 and 1934.