Dutchess County Patients - Willard Asylum - 1877

Proceedings of the BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Dutchess County 1877

[from Report of Special Committee Received by the Clerk Dec. 29, 1877]

Copyrighted Abstract and Transcription by Ginny Buechele – 2004 - All Rights Reserved   Copying expressly forbidden unless for your PERSONAL (not-for-profit/non-commercial) Family History/Genealogy.   Please email me at ginnyflies@usa.net or send U. S. mail to me at P. O. Box 243, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569 with questions or for permission.

Willard's Asylum

The first patient received at Willard's from the county was admitted in 1869. From the City in 1870.

The following are now confined there chargeable to the city, viz: Ann DAVIS, Phoebe VAIL, Bridget RONEY, Francis NESBITT, Margaret WESTFALL, John DONOVAN, "Polly the Spaniard", Edward O'HARE, Wm. W. SHERMAN, Lycinder SUTTON, Mary J. GREY, Geo. HERMAN, Charlotte FOX, Ann M. WETZEL, Catharine CONNOR, Miss COXHEAD, Bridget MAHAR, Geo. W. PATTEN, Miss FOSTER, and Miss Johnson.

From the County are the following:

Name Town Remarks
Reuben Lasher Red Hook
Levi S. Brown Rhinebeck
Wm. Hulse Glenham
Richard P. Bloodgood Poughkeepsie
Wm. Burton Fishkill
Patrick Welsh Poughkeepsie
Patrick Burke Supt. Of Poor
John Cronen Pawling
Edgar Bartram Fishkill
Alfred Germond Pawling
John T. Noxon LaGrange
Smith R. Weed Supt. Of Poor
Isaac Green County at Large
Peter M. Massanoeux
(friends responsible)
Red Hook
Charles Shaffer Red Hook
Patrick McMenny Hyde Park
Michale Rowen Amenia
Ellen Leonard Lithgow
Sarah A. McKay Red Hook
Tamer Purdy Red Hook
Eliza Moore Red Hook
Maggie
(other name Unknown) friendless
Supt. Of Poor
Caroline M. Shaffer Red Hook
Lucy L. Scott Unknown Sister Clarissa Ernst, Stone Ridge, Ulster County
Gertrude Asterhoudt Union Vale
Elizabeth Bates Washington
Catharine Loper Amenia
Ellen Gray Fishkill
Mary McNamee Poughkeepsie
Georgiana Mills Pleasant Valley
Ellen Cronin Unknown
Rebecca R. Tripp Clinton Discharged Cured
Jane Dubois Washington
Caroline Hill Clinton
Mary Waters Unknown
Augusta Heermance Rhinebeck
Josephine Pralatowsky Fishkill
Mary Ann Gidley LaGrange
Catharine Lyons Wappingers
Sarah Palmer Hyde Park
Sarah O'Connor Wappingers
Fanny Sedow LaGrange
Died
The following have died:
Name Admitted Death
John Buckley Oct. 20, 1869 October 30, 1876
Margaret Kelly Oct. 20, 1869 July 3, 1877
Margaret Smith Oct. 20, 1869 Nov. 4, 1872
Sarah Ostrom Dec. 3, 1870 July 17, 1877
Phebe Valentine Aug. 15, 1871 Sept. 12, 1875
Amanda Jones Aug. 15, 1871 Sept. 5, 1871
Mary E. McCord Aug. 15, 1871 Aug. 30, 1872
Emeline Hitchcock Aug. 15, 1871 July 3, 1874
Helen Ham (Blind) Aug. 15, 1871 July 2, 1875
Christine - - - - - - - - Aug. 15, 1871 Aug. 22, 1877
Geo. VanWagner April 10, 1873 Aug. 18, 1873
Ed. R. Schryver April 10, 1873 July 4, 1873
John Mead Nov. 26, 1873 April 9, 1876
Abram Tompkins April 16, 1874 May 24, 1876
Edward Fuller Aug. 12, 1874 March 12, 1875
Catharine Shea Aug. 12, 1874 Feb. 24, 1876
Ellen Fitzgerald Aug. 12, 1874 July 6, 1877
William Wilson Aug. 12, 1874 May 22, 1877
Adelia S. Davis Oct. 27, 1876 Nov. 12, 1876
Discharged
Francis Thorne Dec. 28, 1869,
Mar. 29, 1871
Unimproved Friends took him to Wayne Co.
Catharine Griffith Feb. 16, 1870,
May 9, 1871
Improved
John R. Lyon Jan. 5, 1875,
Jan. 5, 1875
Not Crazy
Martha Beaumont Feb. 17, 1876,
Mar 3, 1876
Improved
Eloped
Thomas Duffy June 8th, 1874 Ran Away Mar. 14, 1876 was two weeks in New York, then went home, died soon after.
John Moore Aug. 12, 1875 Ran Away Sept. 25, 1875, hasn't been heard from since.

Some Additional interesting information from this Report regarding Willard Asylum:

The ground for the institution was broken nine years ago, and the general plans not yet completed, are for an immense establishment. It has a farm of 700 Acres.

Three quarters of a mile from the main building are groups of buildings and a narrow gauge railway is about completed for the sole use of the institution , and stocked with freight and passenger cars and locomotive. A telegraph line also connects all of the buildings. At present there are 1,270 inmates. The project was instituted almost wholly for the poor of the State, and the rich and the poor that are confined there fare alike. A close inspection was made of all the departments. Especially was care taken to inspect the culinary department. . . . . . . . . .

At Willard's there is a splendid conservatory filled with hundreds of choice plants and flowers, and about it are comfortable walks, and not a patient offers to maliciously disturb the lawns. All are allowed perfect freedom at breakfast, dinner and tea, using knives and forks and spoons, the same as other persons, and sitting at the same table as families, and so kind and yet so strict is the discipline generally that the unfortunate beings seem to be careful not to attempt to break the rules.

Each Patient has his own clothing marked and properly cared for, and it is kept perfectly clean at all times. All of the bed rooms are in the most perfect and clean condition, and all the buildings are devoid of any unpleasant odor whatever.

Another thing should be mentioned.

In nine out of 10 cases when a patient has died, his or her friends have entire charge of the remains and given them a burial in a civilized Christian manner. If friends do not call for the body then the officers of the institution provide for a funeral and decent burial upon the grounds.