My husband came upon documents tossed onto a street in Lower Manhattan. They’re patients’ records from the notorious Blackwell’s Island from the mid to late 19th century.
I’ve been attempting to track down descendants through Ancestry to no avail.
I’m re-reading the documents now as some of the hand writing is difficult to decipher. Once I compile a more accurate listing, I’ll post the names and dates of confinement to this forum.
There are no Italian surnames.
Blackwell’s Island NYC
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MaddalenaNYC
- Veteran
- Posts: 192
- Joined: 27 Feb 2012, 02:02
- Location: Brooklyn, NYC
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MaddalenaNYC
- Veteran
- Posts: 192
- Joined: 27 Feb 2012, 02:02
- Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Re: Blackwell’s Island NYC
Okay, I’m starting with the easiest. This commitment decree concerns
Mary A Linden.
There is no date of birth or residence of note for Mary Ann Linden. But she did live in New York City at that time. Remember, in 1872,NYC was solely Manhattan and some areas of the Bronx.
She was committed to Blackwell’s Island in August of 1872.
She was discharged on October 12, 1872.
If you have a Mary Ann Linden in your family history, let me know and I will send this one page document to you.
Next up will be Thomas W. Wood.
Thomas was 53 years old when he was committed in 1896.
He was a street cleaner whose address was 73 North Moore Street in lower Manhattan.
His papers are difficult to read and are almost crumbling in my hands.
There were two diagnoses; nerves and dementia.
His wife was Annie Wood of the same North Moore Street address.
She was illiterate as many folks were back then. She had signed the commitment papers with her “mark”, an X.
If you are a descendant of Thomas W. And Annie Wood who lived in Manhattan in 1896, let me know and I will send the papers to you.
There are more individuals but I will address those persons in future replies.
There is no shame in having been committed to Blackwell’s Island. Mental health or the upset of same, was greatly misunderstood back then.
Linden and Wood are Anglo surnames. Though Linden might be German.
More names to come as soon as I give my poor, tired eyes a rest.
Mary A Linden.
There is no date of birth or residence of note for Mary Ann Linden. But she did live in New York City at that time. Remember, in 1872,NYC was solely Manhattan and some areas of the Bronx.
She was committed to Blackwell’s Island in August of 1872.
She was discharged on October 12, 1872.
If you have a Mary Ann Linden in your family history, let me know and I will send this one page document to you.
Next up will be Thomas W. Wood.
Thomas was 53 years old when he was committed in 1896.
He was a street cleaner whose address was 73 North Moore Street in lower Manhattan.
His papers are difficult to read and are almost crumbling in my hands.
There were two diagnoses; nerves and dementia.
His wife was Annie Wood of the same North Moore Street address.
She was illiterate as many folks were back then. She had signed the commitment papers with her “mark”, an X.
If you are a descendant of Thomas W. And Annie Wood who lived in Manhattan in 1896, let me know and I will send the papers to you.
There are more individuals but I will address those persons in future replies.
There is no shame in having been committed to Blackwell’s Island. Mental health or the upset of same, was greatly misunderstood back then.
Linden and Wood are Anglo surnames. Though Linden might be German.
More names to come as soon as I give my poor, tired eyes a rest.