Mary Pearson

[1] The only Thomas, shoemaker, age 40, I can find in 1841 (one year after Mary married and he was identified with this occupation) was born in Cambridgeshire, England and lives in Whittlesey, St Mary and St Andrew; Hundred: Witchford (North) (Isle of Ely) with a wife named Lydia, age 45, born there as well. NOTE: As of 4 July 2018, they have been eliminated.

[2] Witnesses to the marriage of Mary Pearson and William Henry Dewhurst were John Shaw and Elizabeth Dewhurst.  While her marriage record tells us she is the son of Thomas, a shoemaker, who lived in Camden Town then, until 2004, the only information we had for her was an entry in the 1841 census where she is enumerated in June as married, but shows up living alone without her new husband:

Marylebone, St. Pancras, Camden Villas, Kentish Town, house 5B, pg. 12:
Mary Dewhurst, age 20 (which means 20-24 in this census) married, born out of county.

We do not know where William Henry was on the night of the 1841 enumeration, perhaps he was out working the night police shift? The children of this couple were born in 1841, 1843 and 1849 however, in the March 1851 census enumeration, William shows up with the older children living on Ballard's Lane where William James (my great grandfather) was born the following February.

77 Ballard’s Lane – Ivy Cottage, Finchley, Middlesex, London

William DEWHURST Head, Married, age 35, Police Constable, born Hackney
Caroline DEWHURST Daur. Age 9 born St. Pancras
Mary Elizabeth DEWHURST Daur, age 7 born St. Pancras (never married)
Madeline DEWHURST Daur, age 2 born Finchley

In both 1861 and 1871, William again shows up alone with all the children and listed as married ... he was faithful to their marriage, despite the circumstances.

Mary Dewhurst nee Pearson suffered her first attack of dementia at the age of 30 (1848) which places the beginnings of her problems just before the birth of her daughter Madeline, at a time in the life of the family where there is a five year gap in births - generally unusual, but understandable here. Records show she was hospitalized 4 January 1854...

Mary was transferred from Surrey Lunatic Asylum to Cane Hill Asylum 24, Sept. 1893, years after her husband had died. Her illness is "dementia" and her bodily condition is "feeble." Poor Mary still cannot be connected to her family of birth and we still do not know where she was born, except "out of County." . From the addresses shown in further censuses, it is logical to conclude that the family continued to live close to her so they could interact with her until her death. Two of her three daughters became private nurses. Link here: Mary's Admission Records to Brookwood Asylum. (see the page to the right as well).

Assuming Mary is in the 1881 census, it is hard to identify her as only initials are used for patients. The most likely records identify:

"M. D., Patient, W, Female, 62, Laborer's Wife" at Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum in Surrey;
"M.A. D.,  Patient, W, Female, 63, London, London, Middlesex, England,  Formerly Laundress" at City Of London Lunatic Asylum, Stone In Dartford, Kent, England;
or "M. D., Other, U, Female, 62, Needlework at Middlesex Co Lunatic Asylum, Friern Barnet, Middlesex, England.

When Mary went to Cane Hill Asylum 29 February 1884, she was admitted as patient no. 507 and registered under her maiden name, Mary Pearson. The Poor Law Union was Epsom Board of Guardians.  She left Cane Hill 17 Mar 1890 for Springfield Hospital. Mary died died 24 September 1893, Cane Hill Asylum, Guildford, London.

Records for, held at the London Metro Archives show the following entry in the index to medical case books (female) c1878-c1938 (ref 6367/1/16):

Mary Dewhurst, patient no. 1394, discharged 29 February 1884.

Thanks to the efforts of a wonderful local volunteer, we have finally established Mary's full story:

Female Case Book 15   ref: 3043/5/9/2/21  page 1; does list Wm. Dewhurst, Finchley, Middlesex as her husband, so we definitely have the correct woman. Medical Certificate states:

Death information is as follows:

For pictures of the abandoned building look here: http://www.whateversleft.co.uk/asylums/cane-hill-asylum-coulsdon