Hannah Hemingway

Hannah Hemingway was born in 1853 in Earlsheaton, near Dewsbury. In the 1871 census she appears to be living with her Aunt, a shopkeeper, in Dewsbury. By the 1881 census she is found living alone at 70 Victoria Street, Batley and is described as a Woollen weaver. From these records her life would appear to be unremarkable. Hannahs first brush with the law came in 1882 when she was convicted of breaking a window in Batley and sentenced to 7 days hard labour at Wakefield Prison. Thirty year old Hannah is described in the prison register as bring 5 feet in height, with ginger hair and having 11 false teeth in her upper jaw. She appears in the records again on 26th March 1888 convicted of two counts of theft in Dewsbury and was sentenced to 28 days hard labour: Wakefield Prison Registers C118/231 1888-1890 Register Number: Name: Date: Place: Offence: Sentence: Education: Age: Height: Hair: Trade: Religion: Place of Birth: Date of Discharge: Register Number: Name: Date: Place: Offence: Sentence: Date of Discharge: Remarks: 279 Hemingway, Hannah 26th Mar 1888 Dewsbury Stealing a shawl 14 days hard labour Imperfect 35 5 ft 1 ins. Sandy Charwoman Church Earlsheaton 7th Apr 1888 280 Hemingway, Hannah 26th Mar 1888 Dewsbury Stealing a skirt 28 days hard labour 30th Apr 1888 Insane removed to Wakefield Asylum 30th Apr 1888

On 30th April 1888 Hannah was transferred to the Wakefield Asylum at Stanley Royd (ref: C85/3/6/50). The admission details record that she was single and had no known history of illness prior to admission.

The prison staff reported that Hannah thought that her food was poisoned both before and after she was sent to prison. Hannah also believed she was being persecuted by the Salvation Army. The admission notes give further details. In the records Hannah comes across as cheerful but convinced that her soup is poisoned with potash and that the Chaplin and others are talking about her behind her back. The admission registers to the Asylum can often provide details of the next of kin and other background details of family life. Although no family history is given for Hannah, the case book does mention that she had a cousin, William, who had died at the Asylum 20 years earlier. Hannah was diagnosed with delusional insanity which was believed to be hereditary. She discharged as unimproved on 6th May 1888 and immediately re-admitted by a Magistrates Order. She was still an inmate on 1st December 1890 and was unimproved. Hannah is just one story amongst the many thousands that can be found in the unique archives held by the West Yorkshire Archives. Why not check your family history and see if we may have records that could unlock the lives of your ancestors?